{
  "id": 933863,
  "title": "NLC moves against pro-Tinubu group, queries Lagos chairman",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/nlc-moves-against-pro-tinubu-group-queries-lagos-chairman-933863",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-15T02:40:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/nlc-moves-against-pro-tinubu-group-queries-lagos-chairman/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A fresh internal dispute has emerged within the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the directive issued by the national secretariat to affiliate unions and their officials to refrain from participating in the Working People United (WoPU), a support group advocating for President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027. The controversy has particularly intensified following the Lagos State Council Chairman of the NLC, Agnes Sessi, engaging in WoPU activities despite the national leadership's stance. Sessi serves as the Lagos State Coordinator of WoPU, led by the former President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Williams Akporeha. The NLC's memo dated August 11, 2026, cited Sessi's violation of her oath of office and her failure to consult the congress leadership before aligning with WoPU. The memo accused Sessi of undermining the authority of the national body and betraying her oath of office, raising concerns regarding her responsibilities as an elected official of the Lagos State Council. The memo also expressed serious concerns regarding her adherence to the Congress's rules, regulations, and directives. This development has sparked debates within labour circles about the extent to which the NLC's national leadership can regulate the political activities of its officials and members, especially as political alignments approach the 2027 elections. Akporeha dismissed the NLC's directive against WoPU, stating that it infringes on workers' constitutional right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly. He argued that the directive violates Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and questions the NLC leadership's authority to dictate political affiliations of its members.",
  "summary": "A fresh internal crisis brews within the NLC as its national secretariat queries the Lagos chairman over her involvement with a pro-Tinubu group, WoPU. Read More: https://punchng.com/nlc-moves-against-pro-tinubu-group-queries-lagos-chairman/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "NLC moves against pro-Tinubu group, queries Lagos chairman",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/nlc-moves-against-pro-tinubu-group-queries-lagos-chairman",
        "published": "2026-08-15T02:04:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}