By Aisha Omowumi Yekeen
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been thrown into mourning following the death of its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, who died at the age of 60 after a prolonged illness.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, announced Ugboaja’s death to members of the Congress’ National Executive Council during a meeting in Enugu after receiving a letter from the deceased’s family confirming his passing.
Ugboaja, who became the fifth General Secretary of the NLC in 2019, was a veteran trade unionist and lawyer whose career in organised labour spanned more than three decades.
Born on May 15, 1966, Ugboaja obtained a law degree from the University of Calabar in 1987. He initially practised law before joining the trade union movement in 1993, beginning a career that would see him rise through the ranks of organised labour.
NLC historical records described him as the first Nigerian lawyer to work full-time for a trade union.
He began his major union career with the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, where he later served as General Secretary from 2000 to 2005.
Ugboaja’s career extended beyond trade union activities into civil society and national reform initiatives. Between 2006 and 2009, he served as Coordinator of Advocacy and Mobilisation at the Alliance for Credible Elections before joining the NLC Secretariat in 2009.
He was also a delegate to the Political and Constitutional Reform Conference convened under former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 and participated in the 2014 National Conference under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Before his emergence as NLC General Secretary, Ugboaja served as Principal Assistant General Secretary and headed the Industrial Relations and Organising Department of the labour centre.
His leadership role at the NLC placed him at the centre of workers’ advocacy and industrial relations, contributing to the activities of Nigeria’s organised labour movement until his death.
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Ajaero informed members of the Congress’ National Executive Council of Ugboaja’s passing after receiving the letter from his family.
The development marks a major loss to the labour movement, with Ugboaja remembered for his more than three decades of service as a lawyer, trade unionist and advocate for workers’ interests.
Details surrounding his death remained limited as of the time of filing this report.
