The veteran trade unionist and lawyer passed away on Thursday, throwing the labour movement into mourning.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been thrown into mourning following the death of its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, who passed away at the age of 60 after a protracted illness .
CDA News Nigeria reports that NLC President Joe Ajaero announced the development to members of the Congress National Executive Council (NEC) currently meeting in Enugu State. Ajaero conveyed the news by reading a letter from the late General Secretary’s family to delegates at the meeting .
The late Ugboaja served as the fifth General Secretary of the NLC since its establishment in 1978 . His appointment was ratified by the NEC at a meeting in Kano on August 21, 2019, succeeding the retiring Peter Ozo-Eson .
A lawyer by training, Ugboaja obtained a law degree from the University of Calabar in 1987 . After about four years in private legal practice, he entered the trade union movement in 1993, becoming the first Nigerian lawyer to work full-time for a trade union, according to the NLC’s historical biography .
His trade union career began with the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), where he served as General Secretary from 2000 to 2005Â .
Throughout his tenure as NLC General Secretary, Ugboaja played a prominent role in major labour negotiations, including discussions surrounding the implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage in 2019 and the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act . In April 2026, he signed an NLC directive calling on workers in states yet to fully implement the wage act to stage street rallies on May Day .
All rights reserved ©2026 CDA News Nigeria. Contact: info@cdanews.ng | www.cdanews.ng | +2348030980314 | 348 Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
