STRATEGIES FOR NIGERIA LABOR CONGRESS IN MOBILIZING THE CITIZENRY TOWARDSSUPPORTING CREDIBLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AND PEACE BUILDING

Abstract

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has, since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, been the platform for the
Nigerian people to query government policies, actions and inaction, not only for the Nigerian working class, but
the entire Nigerian peoples. Such policies include: privatization and commercialization of public institutions and
services, incessant fuel hikes, retrenchments of workers and implementation of prescribed conditions and
unfavourable policies of international monopoly finance capitalist institutions, etc. This paper investigates the
activities of the Nigeria Labour Congress, as a credible opposition to the ruling party in Nigeria. It examines the
conditions that necessitated this additional responsibility on the NLC as well as the nexus between credible
opposition and workers’ welfarism. The paper argues that the emergence of the Labour Party in the country’s
political landscape and its relative acceptance is underpinned by the functionality of its platform as the
“mouthpiece of the masses and also The NLC on their own part need to understand that the tensed atmosphere
been created by the current political intrigues requires nothing short of objectivity, balanced and value-free
understanding and explanation. One sided and biased argument is only going to heat up the polity and leave the
stage volatile susceptible to violence. And lastly it is crucial for NLC to build a strong network with relevant,
specific, trusted and visible bodies that can support their efforts. These bodies should be development partners,
foundations, media houses, NGOs and individuals. This is to reach all relevant parties and local groups who
have the will and civic responsibility of supporting the idea.