Written by Teddy Daniel; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, says the Congress remains committed to advancing gender equality, protecting the rights of women workers, and creating equal opportunities for women across the country.
Comrade Ajaero stated this in a message to the 6th NLC State Women Committee Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference held in Kaduna, where new executives of the committee were unanimously endorsed for a four-year tenure.
He explained that the event was in line with the NLC election guidelines, gender policy, and constitution, following the National Women’s Conference held in April 2025.
The NLC President stressed the need to fully constitute women’s structures from the national to state levels to ensure synergy and coordination in promoting the active participation of women in trade unions.
According to him,such structures were necessary to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and other barriers that limit women’s contribution to the development of unions and society at large.
The comrade further explained that the Congress is guided by both national and international frameworks, including the Beijing Declaration, which mark significant milestones in the fight for gender justice and the empowerment of women.
He noted that promoting equality in the workplace and ensuring that women have access to leadership roles remains a core priority of the NLC.
Comrade Joe Ajaero praised women in the Congress for living up to expectations by maximizing opportunities for capacity building and leadership development.
The NLC President assured that the Congress would continue to consolidate the gains of gender mainstreaming and build the capacity of women to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
In her acceptance speech, the newly endorsed Chairperson of the Kaduna State NLC Women Committee, Comrade Agnes John , expressed gratitude to God Almighty, the Congress leadership, and members for the trust reposed in her, while assuring to work diligently with integrity and passion.
Comrade Agnes John emphasized that the success of the women’s committee would depend on unity, love, cooperation, and dedication among members.
She promised to adopt an inclusive leadership style that would give every member a voice and ensure that the committee’s decisions reflect the aspirations of all women in the union.
According to her, the committee would focus on promoting women’s empowerment, advocating for gender equality, supporting women’s leadership, building partnerships, and promoting good governance.
The newly endorsed chairperson cited the words of the Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Asmau Maikudi, that any democratic process that fails to incorporate a gender perspective is flawed.
Comrade Agnes John paid tribute to the outgoing chairperson for her tireless efforts and dedication to the cause of women in the union,adding that her legacy would inspire the new executives to build a stronger and more effective committee capable of making a lasting difference in the lives of women working in Kaduna State.
Comrade Agnes called on all members to join hands in creating a more inclusive and equitable society where women have equal opportunities to strive and succeed.
She said with hope, determination and shared commitment to excellence, the women’s committee and the NLC at large can remain a beacon of hope and empowerment for all women in the labour movement.
