The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has accused the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state of partisanship, describing it as “shameful and unethical” for the labour movement.
In a statement on Friday, the APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, warned the state NLC Chairman, Dr. Christopher Arapasopo, against what he called undue political involvement that could expose the union to manipulation.
Olabisi alleged that the labour leader had abandoned core labour issues for partisan defence of Governor Ademola Adeleke, effectively turning the NLC into “an arm of the PDP.”
“Why would it be the preoccupation of a labour leader to flagrantly jettison labour-related issues that are beneficial to his members and prioritize defending the government of the day?” Olabisi queried.
But in a swift response, organised labour in Osun — comprising the NLC, TUC, and JNC — rejected the accusations, saying the APC was attempting to silence workers through intimidation.
In a joint statement signed by Arapasopo and other leaders, the unions condemned what they described as a “verbal assault” by the opposition party.
“This incident is a manifestation of the tyrannical tendencies that have become too familiar in our state’s political landscape. The labour movement is a vital pillar of democracy and must be allowed to function without harassment or intimidation,” the statement read.
The unions vowed to resist any attempt to undermine workers’ rights, stressing their commitment to defending the welfare of employees and pensioners in the state.
