The Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has officially thrown its weight behind the Interim State Working Committee of the Labour Party in the state, headed by Gogo Wellington.
The endorsement was announced by the Rivers State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, during a courtesy visit by the Labour Party’s interim executives to the NLC Secretariat in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Agwanwor stated firmly that the Interim State Working Committee led by Wellington remains the sole recognised leadership of the Labour Party in Rivers State, adding that no other faction can legitimately lay claim to the party’s executive structure in the state.
“There are people over there who are trying to frustrate your efforts, but don’t be distracted. Don’t give up, be focused on your mandate.
“The law which has established the state working committee is very clear. So, no other person can claim Labour Party than you, so far Rivers State is concerned.
“So, you must be assured of that and be confident in whatever thing you are doing, that you are the rightful persons to pilot the affairs of Labour Party in Rivers State.
“So, we will give you all our support,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Interim State Working Committee of the Labour Party, Gogo Wellington, explained that the visit aimed to strengthen ties and close ranks with the NLC as a key stakeholder in the party.
He emphasized that the Labour Party remains an integral part of the labour movement and is committed to advancing the vision and ideals upon which it was founded.
Wellington said, “I had always questioned why there was so much gap between the Labour Party and the NLC.
“The NLC is an integral part of the Labour Party and the Labour Party should not exist without a very cordial and functional working relationship with the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“And, if such structures are actually out in place properly, I do not see the Labour Party lacking in terms of support, in terms of grass root base, and any of such.
“We know very well that the NLC is well rooted in all the 23 LGAs. So, if properly integrated, I believe the vision, the ideology, the drive of the Labour Party will hit home quite easily.”
Wellington further assured the NLC in the state of a strong and cooperative relationship with the party’s new executive committee.
He said the party is working towards restructuring and forming its structures from the state level down to Local Government Areas, LGAs, and wards.
Wellington emphasized that the NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and other partner bodies will be actively involved in the process.
He added that the party aims to integrate all relevant labour bodies to ensure the formation of these structures is efficient and effective.
“We deemed it fit to come see you as the Chairman of the NLC in Rivers State to assure you that you’ll have a very positive and wonderful working relationship with this exco in the Labour Party.
“We believe it’s going to be positive all the because, right now we are living towards restructuring of the party and forming of the party structures from the state to the LGAs to the Ward levels and the NLC will be carried along, the TUC will be carried along.
“All partner bodies that have anything to do with the NLC, TUC or Labour Party, we’ll find a way to also integrate them so that the formation of these structures will be efficient,” he added.
