The national president of the Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association, PERESSA, Comrade Rufus Olusesan, has said the labour movement has lost a titan with the death of the General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja.
Olusesan stated this in a speech delivered at the evening of tribute in honour of the late NLC scribe, organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos State Council, on 6th November, 2026.
Ugboaja, the 5th General Secretary of the NLC, died on 22nd August, 2026 after a protracted illness, according to PERESSA.
Olusesan described Ugboaja as an enigma who by all standards stood as a genuine and committed trade unionist, a fearless advocate and a dependable comrade in the struggle for workers’ rights and social justice.
He recalled Ugboaja’s days as a member of the Nigeria Social Forum, General Secretary of NUCFRANMPE between 2000 – 2005, member of the Labour and Civil Society Coalition, LASCO, and his role in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.
According to Olusesan, Ugboaja was a lawyer, a scholar, and a delegate to the 2005 National Political Reform Conference and the 2014 National Conference, where he articulated the cause of the downtrodden.
“Indeed, I have lost a friend close to thirty years. In fact, labour movement has lost a titan. Nigeria has lost a patriot,” Olusesan said.
The PERESSA president listed the legacies of the late NLC General Secretary to include his steadfast leadership in strengthening the internal democracy and administrative structure of the NLC; his courage in negotiation during minimum wage struggles, pension reforms, and defense of workers against anti-labour policies; his dedication to bridging divides across industrial unions; and his passion for the emancipation of the working masses.
He said Ugboaja’s voice in fora, protests, and policy engagements helped to ground the labour movement in progressive ideals and connected the fight for workers’ welfare to the broader struggle for the emancipation of the working masses.
Olusesan disclosed that Ugboaja would be buried on 14th November, 2026 in his hometown, Nkpa, Bende local government area of Abia State.
He urged labour leaders to close ranks, noting that the passage of Ugboaja was a signal that the rank of the labour movement was depleted by one.
“As labour leaders, we must remind ourselves that whatever we are today is temporary, therefore, as we unite to bury one of us, his death should trigger the unity of the labour movement more than before. Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, all unions in public or private sectors must close rank and work together for the interest of those who elected them,” he said.
He added: “PERESSA joins the NLC, TUC and the global labour movement to say ‘An injury to one is an injury to all, the struggle which comrade Emma lived and died for will definitely continue.”
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