… Ex-President Recounts Labour Reforms, Praises Summonu’s Leadership
Daud Olatunji
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that when he was Nigeria’s Military Head of State in 1976, the country’s labour movement was partly funded by foreign intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Soviet-era KGB.
Obasanjo disclosed this on Wednesday at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, during the 85th birthday celebration and book launch of a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Hassan Summonu.
Obasanjo ruled as Military Head of State from 1976 and later served as a civilian President between 1999 and 2007.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the development occurred during his tenure as Head of State in 1976.
According to the former President, the revelation informed his decision to reform Nigeria’s labour unions and establish a truly independent, nationally controlled labour organisation.
“Before the reforms, one union was backed by the KGB, while the other was backed by the CIA. These were Nigerian labour organisations, but they were not financed by Nigeria. That was the reality,” Obasanjo said.
He recalled that the need for reform led to the appointment of Justice Adebiyi, who spearheaded the process that culminated in the creation of a unified Nigeria Labour Congress—an organisation structured, funded and led internally.
Summonu subsequently emerged as the first elected President of the reformed NLC, a development Obasanjo described as pivotal to strengthening relations between government and organised labour, while preserving the union’s independence.
Obasanjo praised Summonu’s leadership, noting that his tenure expanded Nigeria’s labour influence across Africa and beyond.
He also revealed that he wrote the foreword to Summonu’s latest book, highlighting the labour leader’s contributions to national development.
“I wanted a Nigerian labour organisation—organised by Nigerians, headed by Nigerians and funded by Nigerians. Justice Adebiyi completed the reforms, and Hassan was elected the first leader,” Obasanjo said.
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