The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Ugboaja, has died at the age of 60 following a prolonged illness.
Details surrounding his death were not immediately available as of the time of the report.
NLC President Joe Ajaero reportedly announced Ugboaja’s death to members of the Congress National Executive Council during their ongoing meeting in Enugu, Enugu State. According to reports, Ajaero read a letter from Ugboaja’s family informing delegates of his passing.
Ugboaja was a respected trade unionist and lawyer who had served as the NLC General Secretary since August 2019. His appointment was ratified by the Congress National Executive Council at a meeting in Kano, succeeding the retiring Peter Ozo-Eson.
During his tenure, Ugboaja played a key role in managing the NLC’s administrative and strategic affairs. His responsibilities included coordinating relations with affiliate unions, handling industrial relations, participating in negotiations with government and employers, implementing policies and supporting nationwide mobilisation.
His time in office coincided with several major disputes between organised labour and successive Nigerian governments over wages, workers’ welfare and economic policies.
One of his notable early assignments was the negotiation over the implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage, approved by the Federal Government in 2019. Disagreements over implementation brought the government and labour unions close to industrial action before an agreement was reached.
Ugboaja remained actively involved in subsequent negotiations and campaigns concerning workers’ pay and welfare.
Emmanuel Ugboaja’s Career
Born on May 15, 1966, Ugboaja studied Law at the University of Calabar and graduated in 1987.
He spent about four years in private legal practice before entering the trade union movement in 1993. According to the NLC’s historical biography, his move into organised labour made him the first Nigerian lawyer to work full-time for a trade union.
He began his union career with the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, an NLC affiliate. He later became its General Secretary, a position he held from 2000 to 2005.
Between 2006 and 2009, Ugboaja served as Coordinator of Advocacy and Mobilisation at the Alliance for Credible Elections before joining the NLC Secretariat in 2009.
His death comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s labour movement, which continues to engage the Federal Government and state governments on the implementation of the new minimum wage, workers’ welfare and the wider effects of economic reforms.
The NLC is expected to provide further information regarding his death and funeral arrangements.
