By Jane Okafor, Abuja
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed that when he took over government, a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was being funded by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) while the other was backed by the Russian KGB.
Obasanjo was a military head of state(1976 – 1979) and later civilian president of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.
The elder statesman said he elected to reorganise Nigeria’s labour movement so as to create an independent and nationally-controlled workers’ union, recalling that the nation’s two dominant labour unions were allegedly receiving support from foreign intelligence agencies, dating back to the Cold War era – between the Union Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the United States of America (USA).
He made this known on Wednesday at Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, venue of the 85th birthday celebration and book presentation in honour of a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Hassan Summonu.
Obasanjo said this situation prompted him to initiate reforms aimed at establishing a single Nigerian labour movement that would be organised, funded, and controlled internally.
He said, “I have a few stories to tell about him, which I believe I should tell, because I may not have any other occasion to tell it. Hassan, do you remember, when Goodluck was leading one of the two major labour unions?
“These two labour organisations are Nigerian labour organisations, but they were not being financed or funded by Nigeria. I don’t know if you know that, but that was the reality.
“One was being financed by KGB. That is the truth. And the other one was being financed by CIA. I think Hassan belonged to the one being financed by KGB.
“And then I came on the scene. I needed for Nigeria, a Nigerian labour union, organised by Nigeria, controlled by Nigeria, financed by Nigeria. So I decided there was going to be a labour union reform. And I think the man I put in charge is Justice Adebiyi.”
According to him, Justice Adebiyi was appointed to lead the reform process, which eventually led to the establishment of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) as the unified national labour body.
He explained that Summonu became its pioneer elected leader.
“And Hassan was one of those who was in the forefront to ask, what do I know about labour that I’m asking for reform? What is my business? And of course, I don’t know anything about labour, but I know that I wanted a Nigerian labour organisation organised by Nigeria, headed by Nigeria, and funded by Nigeria.
“And Justice Adebiyi finished his job and we reformed the labour without government’s hand, they elected their leader. And Hassan became the first leader they elected. I don’t know how Hassan felt at that time, but I felt comfortable,” Obasanjo said.
