Mixed Reactions As Gov. Bago Appoints Niger NLC Chair To Campaign Council

The appointment of the Niger State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Idrees Abdulkareem Lafene, into the Presidential and Gubernatorial Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has sparked mixed reactions among workers.

The appointments, as announced by Governor Mohammed Bago, assigned Lafene as Director of Labour Matters, Comrade Abdullah Abubakar Erena as Deputy Director of Labour Matters, and Comrade Usman Abubakar Dabban as Secretary of the Labour Matters Committee.

The organised labour, through a statement signed by Muhammad Ndanusa Isako, described the appointments as an opportunity to strengthen labour representation and promote workers’ interests within the campaign council.

The statement said the appointments reflected the labour leaders’ leadership experience, political relevance and commitment to workers’ welfare and the development of Niger State, adding that their inclusion in the council would provide a platform for them to mobilise support and advance the aspirations of workers and other citizens in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Bago’s New Niger Agenda.

In their reaction to the development, some workers observed that as labour leaders they should not be seen serving in any partisan position, as it was against fairness in the labour movement.

A worker who gave his name as Aliyu Isah said, “It is not a fair development to other political parties. I am not sure there is any provision in labour law that permits such, but again if you look at it, most labour leaders have turned to politicians.”

Another worker, Audu Dauda, said, “I think that should be discouraged. However, every civil servant and worker has his independent mind to choose whoever they want. The question is, how do you want other political parties to see organised labour in the state?”