By Jude Opara, Abuja
The National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Barr. Julius Abure, on Wednesday began moves to end the crisis between the party and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) with an appeal to the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero to set aside his differences and work together with the leadership of the party considering their age long relationship.
Abure made the plea at a press conference after the April 3 fire incident that almost claimed his life at his Abuja residence.
It could be recalled that both Abure and Ajaero had been at daggers drawn following several attempts made by the labour union to take control of the party structure over claims the embattled LP chairman was running a one-man show amid allegations of financial indiscretion.
While the crisis raged, the LP also made a counterclaim that the NLC leadership was desperately seeking to evict the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) with an ulterior motive to use the party as a transactional platform ahead of the 2027 election.
Addressing newsmen at the party secretariat in Abuja, Abure described the NLC president as a friend and brother whom he has worked together with in the trenches over the years fighting for the welfare of workers and other Nigerians.
Abure therefore urged Ajero to put aside his grievances and support the party in its efforts to rebuild the country in the interest of all Nigerians.
“Consequently, I want to appeal first to my brother, friend and Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC whom we have worked together in the trenches over the years in the struggle for workers, to put aside whatever may be his grievances. Let’s work in the interest of our people.
“Fighting the Labour Party is uncalled for and unwarranted, especially at this time when the working people of Nigeria are suffering. As we speak today, the minimum wage is still N30,000. There are unfair workers practices by employers across the country. The inflation in Nigeria is unprecedented and nobody talks about workers welfare.
“For us, we need to team up together to be able to fight for better working conditions for our people. We need not waste or dissipate our collective energies in fighting ourselves over nothing. The NLC should know by now that the attempt being made to take over the leadership of the party will not work. It is my appeal that working together is better” he concluded.
