Thursday August 27, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has been thrown into mourning following the death of its General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, at the age of 60.
Ugboaja reportedly died on Saturday, August 22, 2026, after battling leukaemia for several years, according to sources close to the labour leader.
Although his death occurred days earlier, news of his passing was not widely circulated until Thursday.
A source familiar with the development said, “He died on Saturday, but we don’t know why they are only informing us now. However, reliable information confirmed that he died on Saturday,” the source said.
The source added: “He battled with leukemia for close to four years.”
Ugboaja was a prominent figure in Nigeria’s organised labour movement, with a career spanning more than three decades as a trade unionist and lawyer.
Born on May 15, 1966, he obtained an LL.B degree from the University of Calabar in 1987. He initially spent four years in private legal practice before turning his attention fully to trade unionism and labour activism.
His transition into organised labour marked a significant milestone, as he became the first Nigerian lawyer to work full-time for a trade union.
Before rising to the leadership of the NLC, Ugboaja served as General Secretary of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), an NLC affiliate, between 2000 and 2005.
He was appointed the fifth General Secretary of the NLC in August 2019, taking over from Peter Ozo-Eson.
In that position, he was deeply involved in the administration of the congress’s affiliate unions and represented the labour movement in several major national negotiations, including discussions surrounding workers’ wages and the national minimum wage.
Beyond trade union activities, Ugboaja also contributed to Nigeria’s democratic and policy processes.
Between 2006 and 2009, he served as Coordinator for Advocacy and Mobilisation at the Alliance for Credible Elections. He was also a labour delegate to the 2005 Political Reforms Conference and the 2014 National Conference.
Ugboaja was a member of the National Institute (mni), having graduated from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
His death is expected to leave a significant gap in the country’s labour movement, where he spent decades representing workers’ interests and participating in critical national policy and labour discussions.
Details of his burial arrangements are expected to be released by his family and the NLC.
(Platinum POST)