Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, extended an olive branch to Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, on Wednesday.
He urged for unity and collaboration within the party’s leadership.
In his first media briefing since the April 3 fire at his residence in Abuja, Abure implored the union leader to lay aside any discord and join forces to aid in the nation’s reconstruction.
The tension between Abure and Ajaero stemmed from multiple efforts by the NLC to assert dominance over the Labour Party’s structure, accusing Abure of autocratic leadership and financial impropriety.
In retaliation, the Labour Party faction alleged that Ajaero was attempting to oust the current National Working Committee led by Abure, with the intention of leveraging the party for personal gain in the upcoming 2027 elections.
At the party’s headquarters in Abuja, Abure spoke to the press, referring to Ajaero as a comrade and ally, reflecting on their shared history of advocating for worker’s rights.
He said, “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 worker 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.”
