Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his decision to reform Nigeria’s labour movement during his administration was driven by concerns over foreign interference and the need to establish an independent, nationally controlled workers’ union.
Obasanjo made the disclosure on Wednesday at the 85th birthday celebration and book presentation in honour of former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Hassan Summonu, held in Abuja.
Recalling events preceding the reform, the former president said the Nigerian labour movement was deeply divided and heavily influenced by rival foreign powers during the Cold War era.
According to him, the two dominant labour centres operating at the time were allegedly funded by foreign intelligence agencies, one by the Soviet Union’s KGB and the other by the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
“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 were Nigerian, but they were not being financed by Nigeria,” Obasanjo said.
“One was being financed by the KGB, that is the truth. And the other was being financed by the CIA. I think Hassan belonged to the one being financed by the KGB.”
The former president said his desire for a truly independent and nationally funded labour movement prompted sweeping reforms that unified the existing groups under one umbrella — the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“I needed for Nigeria a Nigerian labour union, organised by Nigeria, controlled by Nigeria, and financed by Nigeria. So I decided there was going to be a labour union reform,” Obasanjo explained. “Justice Adebiyi was the man I put in charge.”
Obasanjo added that the reform aimed to create a democratic structure within organised labour, free from government interference, allowing workers to freely elect their leaders.
“Hassan was one of those who asked what I knew about labour that I was calling for reform,” he said. “Of course, I didn’t know much about labour, but I knew I wanted a Nigerian labour organisation headed and funded by Nigerians. Justice Adebiyi finished his job, and we reformed the labour movement without government’s hand. They elected their leader, and Hassan became the first leader they elected.”
Obasanjo said the unification of the labour movement helped foster a more structured and constructive relationship between labour and government while preserving the union’s independence.
He commended Summonu for his leadership and for consolidating the labour movement’s influence across Africa and beyond.
The former president also revealed that he wrote the foreword to Summonu’s new book, describing it as an honest account of the labour leader’s contributions to national development and democratic governance.
The event featured notable figures from labour, politics and civil society, including current and former NLC leaders who discussed ongoing challenges facing Nigerian workers, such as the impact of the new tax laws.
