This guide lists individuals who have served as presidents of the National League of Cities (NLC) from 1978 to the present. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is the country’s largest trade union federation, founded in 1978 through a merger of four labor centers.
It represents over 4 million workers across different sectors and has played a major part in advocating for workers’ rights and social justice.
Currently, it is led by President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja. Its main objectives include protecting workers’ rights, promoting democratic governance, and driving socio-economic transformation.
The NLC operates through a National Executive Council and a Central Working Committee. Despite facing two dissolutions under military rule in 1988 and 1994, it was reformed after Nigeria’s return to democracy.
The NLC is known for organizing nationwide strikes, particularly against fuel price hikes and unfavorable government policies. It also established the Labour Party to engage in Nigeria’s political landscape.
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List Of NLC Presidents From 1978 Till Date
| President | Term Start | Term End |
|---|---|---|
| Wahab Goodluck | 1978 | 1981 |
| Ali Chiroma | 1981 | 1984 |
| Hassan Sunmonu | 1984 | 1988 |
| Pascal Bafyau | 1988 | 1994 |
| No President (Military Era) | 1994 | 1999 |
| Adams Oshiomhole | 1999 | 2007 |
| Abdulwahed Omar | 2007 | 2011 |
| Abdulwahed Omar | 2011 | 2015 |
| Ayuba Wabba | 2015 | 2023 |
| Joe Ajaero | 2023 | Present |
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Who Was The First Presidents Of NLC?
Wahab Omorilewa Goodluck, born on July 11, 1923, in Nigeria, was the first president of NLC. He grew up during a time of major social and political changes.
Goodluck became a leading figure in Nigeria’s labor movement in the 1970s. He led the Nigeria Trade Union Congress (NTUC), one of the country’s four major labor organizations.
Working alongside activists like Michael Imoudu and Samuel Bassey, he fought for workers’ rights and challenged exploitative practices. His activism, however, led to a ban from trade unionism during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
In 1974, he was instrumental in merging the NTUC, Labour Unity Front (LUF), Nigeria Workers’ Council (NWC), and United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULCN) into a single entity, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
This historic unification transformed Nigeria’s labor movement. When the NLC was officially launched on December 18, 1978, Goodluck became its first president.
As president, he built a strong foundation for labor advocacy in Nigeria. The NLC became a major force in the fight for workers’ rights and social justice. Wahab Goodluck passed away on September 10, 1991. In 2008, the NLC honored his legacy with a 30th-anniversary lecture.
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Who Is The Current President Of NLC?
Joe Ajaero, born on December 17, 1964, in Emekuku, Owerri North, Imo State, Nigeria, is the current NLC president. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1990. In 1994, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the Times Journalism Institute.
He later earned a Master’s degree in Industrial and labor relations from the University of Lagos in 1998 and a Law degree from Baze University, Abuja, in 2023.
During his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from 1990 to 1991, Ajaero worked as a Research Officer at the One Mechanised Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna.
He then joined Vanguard Newspapers, serving as a reporter and assistant news editor from 1992 to 2001. In 2001, he moved to the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) as Head of Training and Information.
By 2005, he had become the General Secretary, a role he held until 2022. On February 8, 2023, Ajaero was elected President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), becoming the first unionist from the power sector to hold this position.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (FCIMC) and a member of the Nigeria Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Nigeria Industrial Relations Association (NIRA), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Also, he served on the Presidential Committee on Power Sector Reforms under President Umaru Yar’Adua and chaired the NLC Political Commission.
Ajaero is known for his strong advocacy for workers’ rights and welfare. His leadership has been defined by multiple threats of nationwide strikes, particularly in response to fuel subsidy removals and rising living costs. He is married with children.