Abure to Ajaero: Let’s Walk Together, Nnewi Convention in Line with LP Practice

•Commends TUC for collaborating with party

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Embattled National Chairman of the Labour party, Julius Abure, has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) led by Joe Ajaero to join the party to enable the leadership right the wrongs in the nation.

He also said the March national convention of the party was conducted in line with the constitution of the party irrespective of earlier agreement reached between the party and other stakeholders.

He, however, announced the setting up of a committee to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party.

Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat, Abure said, “I want to appeal, first to my own 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 the workers, to put aside whatever may be his grievances and let’s work in the interest of our people.

“Fighting the Labour Party at this time is uncalled for and unwarranted especially at this time when the working people of Nigeria are suffering. As we speak today, minimum wage is still N30.000.

“There are unfair workers practices by employers across the country. The inflation in Nigeria is unprecedented. Unemployment and underemployment are unimaginable and unacceptable.

“The welfare of workers are swept under the carpet and nobody talks about workers welfare. So, for us, we need to team up together in other 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. Secondly, this is the first time the Labour Party will be having a very successful outing in the political space.

“In the history of the party, we have a governor in our kitty, 35 House of Representatives members, 7 Senators and several other members in the various Houses of Assemblies across the country.

“I think we could consolidate on this and use what we have to get what we want. I had thought that we can use our representation in the National Assembly currently to begin to fight the cause of workers, fight the cause of Nigerians and see if we can get a better life for our people.

“It is on the basis of the foregoing that the current energy the NLC is dissipating in attempting to take over the leadership of the party is unnecessary and will therefore lead us to nowhere,” he said.

He commended the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for supporting the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.