Pro-NLC Stakeholders Approve Transition Committee For Labour Party

Stakeholders allied to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday approved the setting up of a Transition Committee to oversee the affairs of the Labour Party and conduct a national convention within three months.

The names of members of the Transition Committee which are from different segments of the society that make up the Labour Party are expected to be announced after the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.

The resolution to set up a Transition Committee for Labour Party was taken at the Stakeholders meeting convened by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Political Commission in Abuja.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Stakeholders described the purported national convention that was conducted in Nnewi, Anambra State as inconsequential and null and void.

The communique read: “Owing to the current vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party, the NLC Political Commission consequent on its status in the Constitution of the Labour Party as a registered trustee of the Labour Party, a status that was further buttressed by a Federal High Court Consent Judgement delivered on March 20, 2018 by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, convened this Stakeholders meeting to address the leadership void in the Labour Party and to discuss the repositioning of Labour Party to deliver its mandate as the political vehicle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers and people.

“Resolutions of the Stakeholders’ Meeting

“The Stakeholders Meeting noted the vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party following the expiration of the supposed tenure of the immediate past National Working Committee of the Labour Party.

“The Stakeholders Meeting affirmed and validated the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress through her Political Commission as the only body recognised by the Constitution of the Labour Party and Justice Kolawole’s Consent Judgement to act as trustee in a situation of leadership vacuum as is currently the case in the Labour Party.

“The Stakeholders Meeting following the unanimous adoption of a motion moved to accept the recommendations made in the address by the NLC Political Commission Chairman resolved that in order to reposition the Labour Party from a mere platform for contesting elections to a viable political vehicle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers and people the following steps must be taken immediately:

“Constitution of a Transition Committee under the leadership of the NLC Political Commission and working with all stakeholders with a mandate to set up structures at national, state, local government and ward level for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the Labour Party.

“The Stakeholders Meeting passed a vote of no-confidence on the purported Labour Party national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State and regards as inconsequential the leadership that claims to have emerged from the illegal Nnewi Convention.

“That the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all the relevant security organisations in Nigeria are hereby notified and should be officially written immediately to recognise the Transition Committee as the interim leadership of the Labour Party pending the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention of the Labour Party.

“That the Transition Committee once constituted should fully take over the secretariats of the Labour Party all over Nigeria.

“That the Transition Committee shall immediately set up an assets recovery process of all the properties of the Labour Party. The Transition Committee shall also ensure that all the cases of fraud, impersonation and forgery of government documents pending against a few discredited former officers of the Labour Party are forensically audited and culprits are diligently prosecuted as demanded by leader of the Labour Party – Mr. Peter Obi. It is unfortunate that the actions of these few dishonourable characters have splashed mud on the white satin of Labour Party.

“That the Transition Committee shall within three months of its constitution ensure the conduct of an inclusive national convention of the Labour Party starting from ward congresses to local government congresses to state congresses culminating in an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention in Abuja.

“Pursuant to the foregoing, the Transition Committee is mandated by the Stakeholders Meeting to begin the process of revalidation of current members of the Labour Party and the registration of new members through the issuance of new membership cards and receipt of membership dues for the purpose of the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the Labour Party. It is expected that this mobilisation drive will yield in the first instance a total membership strength of 10 million

“Labour Party card carrying members drawn from across all workplaces, marketplaces, professional groups, ethnic and religious organisations that Nigerian workers and people belong to.

“The Stakeholders Meeting recognises, affirms and commends the support of critical stakeholders in the Labour Party for their continued support and faith in Labour Party. We promise that your steadfast solidarity will surely count!

“Finally, we reiterate that the Labour Party is a Party for all Nigerians regardless of ethnic, religious, regional, social and economic orientation or status.”

The communique was signed by Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku For: Chairman, NLC Political Commission, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, former President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Sylvester .O.Z. Ejiofor Chairman, Board of Trustees, Labour Party and Engr. Gambo Daniel Balarabe National Coordinator.

Others were, Dr. Moses Paul (Mo) Coordinator, Obidient Movement, Chief Yohana Yilpwan Margif Labour Party Plateau State Governorship Candidate,

Dr. Kingsley Oghogho Okundaye Coordinator, LPPMC, Hon. Jonathan Asake Kaduna State Labour Party Governorship Candidate and Barr. Ihekwoaba Paul, for Disabled Persons in Labour Party.