Labour Party mourns NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja
The Labour Party has expressed sadness over the death of Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who died recently at 60 years old.
Ken Asogwa, National Publicity Secretary of the party, expressed the condolences in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Asogwa described Ugboaja as a strong unionist, committed democrat and pillar of support to the current leadership of the Labour Party.
He said Ugboaja’s death had created a painful void in the labour movement and the Labour Party family.
According to him, Ugboaja played a pivotal role in strengthening the relationship between the Labour Party and the organised labour movement, particularly the NLC.
He said the deceased made invaluable contributions at meetings and deliberations that culminated in the emergence of the party’s new constitution.
The party’s spokesman said Ugboaja’s contributions to the growth and development of the Labour Party would remain memorable.
He recalled that Ugboaja was a member of the NLC National Executive Council that approved the formation of the Party for Social Democracy (PSD) in 2003.
Asogwa said the PSD later metamorphosed into the Labour Party in 2004, adding that Ugboaja subsequently became the party’s Deputy National Secretary.
He also served as National Secretary of the NLC Political Commission, contributing significantly to the relationship between organised labour and the political platform.
According to him, Ugboaja contributed immensely to the struggle for the sustenance and deepening of democracy in Nigeria.
He said the deceased’s commitment to democratic ideals aligned with the core values and vision of the Labour Party.
Asogwa said Ugboaja was a member of the defunct National Constitutional Reform Conferences of 2005 and 2014.
He added that the late unionist made significant contributions to shaping the final reports of the two constitutional reform conferences.
The Labour Party’s spokesman said Ugboaja also served as a Director of the Alliance for Credible Elections.
According to him, Ugboaja championed a national campaign for electoral reforms between 2007 and 2010.
Read Also:Labour leaders call for urgent review of N70,000 national minimum wage
NLC protest disrupts Lagos flight, Air Peace passengers stranded
He said the campaign contributed to the process that led to the establishment of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.
The committee was established by the administration of former President Umaru Yar’Adua to examine electoral reforms in Nigeria.
Asogwa described Ugboaja’s life as one dedicated to the labour movement, democratic development and service to Nigeria.
He said his contributions to the causes would remain part of the country’s collective history and would not be forgotten.
The party extended heartfelt condolences to the NLC leadership, organised labour, Ugboaja’s colleagues, friends, associates and immediate family.
“We pray that God Almighty grants eternal rest to his soul and gives his family, the Labour movement and the nation fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.(NAN)
