A fresh dispute is brewing within the Nigeria Labour Congress after its national secretariat questioned the Lagos State Council chairman, Agnes Sessi, over her involvement with a group supporting President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Sessi took part in activities organised by Working People United, a group campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election. The group is led nationally by former President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Williams Akporeha.
Sessi also serves as the Lagos State Coordinator of WoPU. The NLC had earlier directed its affiliate unions and officials to stay away from the group. Despite the directive, Sessi attended a WoPU event on Wednesday. Her involvement has now prompted the national secretariat to issue her a query.
NLC Queries Lagos Chairman
The NLC issued the query in a memo dated August 11, 2026. The document was signed by its Deputy General Secretary and Head of Information Department and Public Affairs, Benson Upah. The national secretariat accused Sessi of ignoring its directive. It also questioned her decision to associate with WoPU without consulting the NLC leadership. According to the memo, her involvement raised concerns about her role as an elected officer of the Lagos State Council.
The NLC said her actions could amount to a breach of the oath of office she took as council chairman. It also accused her of acting against the union’s rules and directives. The development has sparked fresh debate within labour circles. The main issue is the extent to which the NLC can regulate the political activities of its officials. The debate comes as political activities increase ahead of the 2027 general elections.
WoPU Rejects NLC Position
Akporeha has rejected the NLC’s position on the matter. He argued that workers have a constitutional right to join associations of their choice. According to him, the NLC cannot stop workers from belonging to a political support group. He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.
Akporeha also accused the NLC leadership of becoming involved in politics instead of focusing on workers’ welfare. He said WoPU considers the directive an infringement on the rights of Nigerian workers. The former NUPENG president further argued that the NLC constitution does not require political support groups to obtain approval from its national leadership.
Akporeha Accuses NLC Leadership
Akporeha also accused NLC President Joe Ajaero of trying to influence workers to support the Labour Party and its preferred candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
He recalled the labour movement’s involvement in the 2023 election. Akporeha alleged that some NLC leaders pressured workers to support the Labour Party and its candidate.
He maintained that the NLC consists of individual unions. Each union has its own constitution and decision-making structure.
Akporeha therefore questioned the authority of NLC leaders to determine the political choices of individual workers. The dispute has raised questions about the limits of NLC authority and the political rights of its officials and members.
It also highlights the growing political divisions within organised labour ahead of the 2027 elections. For now, the next step will depend on Sessi’s response to the query. Her response could determine whether the matter remains an internal disciplinary issue or develops into a wider dispute within the labour movement.
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