The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Emmanuel Ugboaja, has died at the age of 60 following a protracted illness.
Ugboaja’s death was announced by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, during the ongoing meeting of the Congress’ National Executive Council in Enugu State on Thursday.
According to reports, Ajaero informed delegates of the news after reading a letter from Ugboaja’s family announcing his death.
Details surrounding the circumstances of his death remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
Ugboaja’s career in the labour movement
Ugboaja, a lawyer and veteran trade unionist, had served as the NLC General Secretary since August 2019, after his appointment was ratified by the Congress’ National Executive Council at a meeting in Kano.
He succeeded Peter Ozo-Eson, who retired from the position.
As General Secretary, Ugboaja played a key role in coordinating the administrative and strategic affairs of the labour centre. His responsibilities included managing relations with affiliate unions, handling industrial relations, participating in negotiations with government and employers, implementing labour policies and coordinating nationwide mobilisation.
His tenure also coincided with several major disputes between organised labour and successive Nigerian governments over workers’ welfare, wages and economic policies.
Role in minimum wage negotiations
One of Ugboaja’s major early assignments at the NLC involved negotiations over the implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage approved by the Federal Government in 2019.
Disagreements over the implementation of the wage triggered tensions between the government and organised labour and brought the parties close to industrial action before an agreement was eventually reached.
Ugboaja subsequently remained active in negotiations and campaigns concerning workers’ wages, welfare and improved working conditions.
In April 2026, he signed an NLC directive urging workers in states that had yet to fully implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act to participate in street rallies on May Day.
The directive highlighted his role in translating decisions of the labour congress into nationwide mobilisation.
Early life and trade union career
Born on May 15, 1966, Ugboaja studied Law at the University of Calabar and graduated in 1987.
He spent about four years in private legal practice before joining the trade union movement in 1993.
According to the NLC’s historical biography, his entry into the labour movement made him the first Nigerian lawyer to work full-time for a trade union.
He began his union career with the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, an affiliate of the NLC.
He later rose to become the union’s General Secretary, a position he held from 2000 to 2005.
Between 2006 and 2009, Ugboaja served as Coordinator of Advocacy and Mobilisation at the Alliance for Credible Elections before joining the NLC Secretariat in 2009.
NLC mourns veteran labour leader
Ugboaja’s death comes at a crucial period for Nigeria’s labour movement, with the NLC continuing to engage the Federal Government and state authorities on the implementation of the new minimum wage, workers’ welfare and the broader economic effects of ongoing reforms.
The NLC is expected to issue further statements concerning the death of its General Secretary and announce details of his funeral arrangements.
His death is expected to be widely felt across Nigeria’s organised labour movement, where he spent more than three decades advocating for workers’ rights and improved welfare.
