A new national labour movement called United Labour Congress of Nigeria has been formed by 25 industrial unions from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria on Saturday.
The ULC elected 13 executives to drive its mandate in which the General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Joseph Ajaero, emerged as its National President.
In addition, Igwe Achese of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, became its Deputy President; K. Kadiri became its National Vice President while Onyeka Chris emerged as its acting General Secretary.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its inaugural delegates’ conference, the congress said there was an urgent need for a rebirth of the organised labour in order to recreate a movement capable of fulfilling its potential to Nigerian workers, masses and Nigeria.
Members of the union pledged to restore hope to Nigerian workers who were being victimised, and neglected, adding that it would defend the rights of oppressed Nigerians in a bid to make governance more effective and responsive.
They observed that the existing labour unions had been compromised by forces that did not have its interest, that of Nigerians at heart, saying that there was need for a refining and strengthening of trade unionism.
