A pro-President Bola Tinubu support group, Working People United, WoPU, has rejected a directive reportedly issued by leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, asking affiliates to boycott the inauguration of its Lagos chapter.
WoPU National Coordinator-General, Williams Akporeha, described the directive as anti-democratic and a violation of workers’ constitutional right to freedom of association at a news conference in Lagos.
The conference followed the inauguration of the WoPU Lagos chapter, a political support movement mobilizing workers across various sectors in support of the Tinubu administration and its 2027 re-election bid.
Akporeha said the directive was an infringement on the rights of Nigerian workers as guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
“Working People United hereby condemns in the strongest terms the directive issued by some persons of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“WoPU views this directive as a fundamental violation of the constitutional rights of Nigerian workers to freedom of association.
“The right, as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, guarantees every person the right to assemble freely and associate with other persons,” he said.
Akporeha said WoPU was a duly registered support group recognized by Nigerian law and government since October 2025, adding that it could not be described as an unknown organization.
He also argued that there was no provision in the NLC constitution requiring a political support group to obtain approval from individuals within the labour hierarchy before operating.
WoPU was established to mobilize working people across various sectors in support of good governance and to provide a platform for workers to participate in politics and advocate their interests.
The group comprised professionals, artisans, members of market associations, and workers in the formal and informal sectors, as well as public and private establishments.
Akporeha said WoPU’s support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 was a legitimate political choice protected by the Constitution.
He, however, alleged that some NLC officials were attempting to dictate the political choices of workers by directing them to support the Labour Party.
“It is unfortunate that some persons in NLC are now arrogating powers they do not possess by directing individuals, unions and affiliates that their members should only join and support the Labour Party,” he said.
Akporeha maintained that individual unions affiliated with the NLC retained their rights and decision-making powers under their respective constitutions.
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He urged the NLC to focus on protecting workers’ rights rather than interfering with their freedom to belong to political or other lawful associations.
The coordinator-general also rejected the description of efforts to prevent NLC members from exercising their right to join associations as treason, describing such actions as a threat to workers’ freedom of association.
He said WoPU’s position was also based on Nigeria’s obligations under relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, particularly Conventions 87 and 98, which deal with freedom of association and the protection of workers’ rights to organise.
Akporeha stressed that WoPU was not established to replace or undermine the NLC or any other labour organisation.
“WoPU is a legitimate, constitutionally protected association, a movement of Nigerian working people with an interest in politics and good governance in Nigeria.
“It is a movement that brings together working people from all sectors to amplify their voices and advocate for their interests, especially in politics and other aspects,” he said.
He said WoPU projected a membership of more than 70 million working Nigerians and was committed to advocating good governance.
Akporeha said the organization recognized what he described as the “giant strides” of the Tinubu administration and would mobilize support for the president and other candidates aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda in the 2027 elections.
He called on the NLC to withdraw the directive, respect workers’ constitutional rights and uphold Nigeria’s obligations under international labour standards. He also urged the congress to apologize to WoPU and its members.
Akporeha appealed to Nigerian workers to exercise their rights without fear of intimidation or harassment and called on security agencies to protect workers, particularly members of the WoPU Lagos chapter, from alleged intimidation.
“The NLC’s directive is an affront to the Nigerian Constitution and international labour standards. “No organization, no matter how powerful, has the right to tell Nigerian workers which associations they can join.
“We again call on NLC to withdraw this illegal directive and stop further intimidation of the working people, especially within its affiliates,” he said.
Akporeha expressed support for the WoPU Lagos chairperson, Mrs Funmi Sessi, and urged that she not be intimidated over her political affiliation.
He called on the Department of State Services and other security agencies to protect workers from harassment, while urging relevant government authorities to monitor the situation.
He said WoPU remained committed to promoting unity, productivity and progress among Nigerian workers and would continue to advocate responsible citizenship and good governance.
Akporeha added that the organization would continue to mobilize workers and other Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections in support of its preferred candidates.
NAN
