The leadership of the Lagos State Council of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has been thrown into fresh crisis as its State Delegates’ Conference collapsed in disarray on Tuesday following allegations of government meddling in the electoral process.
The election, convened to usher in new executive members of the Lagos TUC, was abruptly halted after delegates accused the state government of attempting to impose a candidate who was not duly nominated by his own union, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).
Angry delegates stormed out of the venue after the national leadership of the TUC ordered the suspension of the exercise and announced the formation of a five-man caretaker committee to run the council for 30 days.
One visibly enraged delegate told PLATFORM TIMES, “We were informed that the state government is insisting on one particular person.
But the candidate’s union refused to endorse his nomination. Despite that, the TUC national leadership made a U-turn and insisted he must become chairman. This is unacceptable.”
The atmosphere degenerated further when a representative of the TUC national secretariat, shortly after allegedly receiving a phone call, declared that the election could no longer proceed, citing “unresolved internal disputes” within the ASCSN.
The move triggered loud protests as delegates rejected the caretaker arrangement and demanded the continuation of the election.
“They cannot stop the election midway and handpick leaders for us. We came here to vote, not to have our rights trampled upon,” another delegate shouted, as chants of resistance echoed across the hall.
The conference, which had begun on a celebratory note, ended in commotion, with workers accusing both the Lagos State Government and the TUC national leadership of undermining democratic practices within the labour movement.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of Lagos State officials proved unsuccessful as of press time.
With the election suspended and the caretaker committee facing outright rejection, the leadership tussle has deepened divisions in the Lagos TUC, raising fears of prolonged instability in the state’s labour front.
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