The Labour Party (LP) has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against interfering in the affairs of the party, News About Nigeria reports.
The National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, gave this warning in a statement on Tuesday.
His directive came after a letter was sent to the office by LP National Chairman Julius Abure.
Ifoh said that the warning is also a directive from the Registrar of Trade Unions in Nigeria, Mr. Falonipe Amos.
Recall that the NLC has been in contention with the leadership of the Labour Party over proprietary rights claims, insisting that it owns the party.
The letter, titled Request for Your Urgent Intervention: The Need to Define the Roles of NLC, appealed to the Registrar to intervene in the matter.
According to the Registrar, the Act establishing the NLC does not permit it to interfere in the political activities of any political party.
He referred NLC to Section 15 (1) (2) (3) of the Trade Unions Act, ‘Cap T14 & TI5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which states that, “On no account should NLC be involved in the running or patronising of political parties or persons into elective office.’’
He also stated that Section 15(1) of the Trade Union Act specifically states that it is illegal for NLC or any other trade union to use funds generated by its members for the furtherance of any political objective.
“The following objectives, and no others, are political objectives for the purpose of this section, that is to say, “the making of contributions towards the funds of any political party.
“It also bars NLC from the payment of any expenses incurred, directly or indirectly, by a candidate or prospective candidate for election to any political office in Nigeria or any part of Nigeria, among other provisions.
“I wish to urge the leadership of the NLC to be guided by the above provisions of the Trade Unions Act in dealing with the Labour Party and any other political parties,” he stated.
