By Chinedu Echianu
The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Ugboaja, has died at the age of 60 after a prolonged illness.
The NLC announced his death to members of its National Executive Council, currently meeting in Enugu State. NLC President Joe Ajaero reportedly read a letter from Ugboaja’s family informing the council of his death.
Ugboaja who was a veteran trade unionist and lawyer became the NLC’s fifth General Secretary in August 2019, succeeding Peter Ozo-Eson.
Born on May 15, 1966, Ugboaja studied law at the University of Calabar and graduated in 1987. After about four years in private legal practice, he joined the trade union movement in 1993.
The NLC’s historical biography describes him as the first Nigerian lawyer to work full-time for a trade union.
He began his union career with the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, where he rose through the ranks and served as General Secretary from 2000 to 2005.
Between 2006 and 2009, Ugboaja worked as Coordinator of Advocacy and Mobilisation at the Alliance for Credible Elections, a civil society organisation focused on electoral issues. He later joined the NLC Secretariat in 2009.
He also participated in major national reform processes. He was a delegate to the 2005 Political and Constitutional Reform Conference under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the 2014 Constitution Review Conference under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Before becoming General Secretary, Ugboaja served as Principal Assistant General Secretary and Head of Industrial Relations and Organising at the NLC.
The NLC National Executive Council ratified his appointment as General Secretary at its meeting in Kano on August 21, 2019.
As General Secretary, Ugboaja played a key role in labour negotiations, including discussions on the implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage in 2019.
He remained active in labour policy and negotiations until his death. In April 2026, he signed an NLC directive calling on workers in states that had not fully implemented the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act to hold rallies on May Day.
Ugboaja’s career spanned legal practice, trade union administration, civil society advocacy and national policy engagements, making him a prominent figure in Nigeria’s labour movement.
