Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja
Senator Adams Oshiomhole who represents Edo North, and is also a former governor of the state, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of the General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja.
Describing the passing as a profound loss to the Nigerian labour movement and the nation in a condolence message, he said Ugboaja was a dedicated labour activist who distinguished himself through decades of principled service, advocacy and commitment to the advancement of Nigerian workers.
The senator who is also a former President of the NLC, commiserated with the President and leadership of the NLC, its affiliates, the entire Nigerian labour movement and the family of the deceased over Ugboaja’s death following a protracted illness.
He said Ugboaja’s career represented an unusual blend of legal expertise, industrial-relations experience and trade union leadership. He noted that Ugboaja was the first Nigerian lawyer to serve full-time in a trade union and rose through the ranks to become General Secretary of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE).
Oshiomhole joined the NLC Secretariat in 2009 and eventually became the fifth General Secretary of the Congress.
He also highlighted Ugboaja’s participation in the 2005 Political and Constitutional Reform Conference convened under President Olusegun Obasanjo and the 2014 Constitution Review Conference under President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that these engagements reflected his commitment to national development beyond trade union affairs.
Besides, he acknowledged Ugboaja’s contributions to labour-government negotiations, policy formulation, worker mobilisation and the implementation of NLC decisions.
He prayed that the Almighty would grant his family, colleagues and the entire Nigerian labour movement the strength to bear the loss, but noted that “Comrade Ugboaja’s passing leaves a significant void in the labour movement.”
