Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has died at the age of 60 after a prolonged illness.
Ugboaja, who became the fifth General Secretary of the NLC in 2019, was a veteran trade unionist and lawyer. His career in organised labour spanned more than three decades.
Details surrounding his death remained limited at the time of filing. However, NLC President Joe Ajaero reportedly informed members of the Congress’ National Executive Council during a meeting in Enugu. Ajaero received a letter from Ugboaja’s family, according to Vanguard reports.
A life dedicated to labour movement
Born on May 15, 1966, Ugboaja obtained a law degree from the University of Calabar in 1987. He initially practised privately before moving into the trade union movement in 1993.
He was described in NLC historical records as the first Nigerian lawyer to work full-time for a trade union.
Ugboaja began his major union career with the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees. He later served as its General Secretary between 2000 and 2005.
Civil society and national reform efforts
His career also extended into civil society and national reform efforts. Between 2006 and 2009, he served as Coordinator of Advocacy and Mobilisation at the Alliance for Credible Elections. He later joined the NLC Secretariat in 2009.
Ugboaja was also a delegate to the Political and Constitutional Reform Conference convened under former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005. He also participated in the 2014 National Conference under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Before emerging as NLC General Secretary, he served as Principal Assistant General Secretary. He also headed Industrial Relations and Organising within the labour centre.
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