The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has formally announced the death of its General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja.
News of his death had earlier circulated in some local media on Thursday.
However, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC confirmed his death in a statement on Friday, saying his family conveyed the news during the council’s meeting in Enugu.
The statement, signed by NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, described the development as heartbreaking and said Ugboaja died after a protracted illness.
Ajaero described the late General Secretary as an accomplished scholar, lawyer, advocate and strategist who made significant contributions to the trade union movement.
According to him, Ugboaja was a strong negotiator who represented workers’ interests at the negotiating table and remained committed to the labour movement.
The NLC said it was working closely with the deceased’s family to ensure that he was accorded the dignity and honour he deserved.
In a condolence letter to the NLC, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) described Ugboaja as a patriot who served with consistency, intellectual vigour, humour and strategic resolve.
The letter, signed by MHWUN President, Dr Kabiru Ado Sani, said Ugboaja participated actively in collective bargaining engagements and national policy deliberations, where he consistently defended the interests of workers.
Also commiserating with the NLC, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, expressed sadness over the death, describing it as a major loss to the labour movement.
In a condolence message issued on Friday in Abuja, Faleye described Ugboaja as a committed labour leader, an advocate for Nigerian workers and a patriot who served with dedication.
He said Ugboaja stood firmly for the rights and dignity of workers as NLC General Secretary and contributed to efforts aimed at improving workers’ welfare and social protection.
Faleye described him as a brilliant lawyer and administrator whose contributions to workers’ welfare and social justice would be remembered.
He commiserated with the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the leadership and members of the congress, Ugboaja’s family and the wider labour movement.
Faleye prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and give his family the strength to bear the loss.
