By AMINA ANEBI KADUNA
President Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe AJAERO has urged Kaduna Women Committee and trade unions to provide a voice for the voiceless, especially the women in the informal sector and other vulnerable groups, to strengthen democratic principles and promote women participation in decision making.
The Nigeria Labor Congress President Comrade Joe Ajaero made this known during the 6th NLC State Women Conference and the Election of Officers of the State Women Committee on
13TH AUGUST 2025 Held at Medical and Health Workers Lodge, 14A Gwari Avenue Barnawa GRA Kaduna .
Comrade AJAERO who was represented by Comrade Chidinma Comrade Chidinma Ndubisi said, the NLC Constitution provides for the Chairperson and the Secretary to be both members of SAC and SEC at the NLC State Councils and that the Chairperson is an automatic Vice Chairperson of the NLC State Council.
It has however come to the notice of Congress that some State Councils and unions have not implemented the affirmative actions and constitutional provisions with respect to the participation of the Chairpersons and Secretaries of the State Women Committees in the NLC State Administrative Councils (SAC) and State Executive Councils (SEC).
It’s therefore call on State Councils that have not acted accordingly to immediately respect and uphold the NLC Constitution and the commitment of Congress to gender justice for the participation of women in decision making processes and bodies at all levels.
” I wish to also stress that the women structure is not an end in itself but a means to an end. It is an affirmative action and preparatory ground for women to take up leadership positions in the workplace, unions and the larger society at all levels because women are powerful change agents. Remember also the adage that the person who wears the shoes knows better where it pinches.
” Women must therefore drive the process of women empowerment and advancement in the unions and larger society by taking charge of the women structures and other activities meant for women, which are aimed at promoting the rights and interests of working women.It is in realization of the aforementioned that we strategically insist on women planning and executing their elections, he applied.
He also note that it is important to fully constitute the NLC Women Structures from the National to the State levels to ensure proper coordination and synergy in promoting the active participation of women in trade unions leadership positions.
“The Congress is committed to the issue of gender equality and the protection of rights of all workers especially women workers. This is in line with our Gender Policy as well as other national and international instruments, treaties or frameworks for gender justice and the empowerment of women at all levels.
” This is also part of our practical demonstration in recognition of the 30 years post Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action on Gender Equality, he urged.
“Again, Congress has continued to consolidate on the gains of gender mainstreaming by supporting and building the capacity of women to discharge their responsibilities to the working women in Nigeria.
“And I am happy that the women have also lived up to expectations by adequately utilising the opportunities available and have proven themselves as capable trade union and gender activists.
He explained the important of constituting the Women Committee structure; , it is important for me to give you a brief update on the creation of the State Women Committee in all the State Councils which was then called the Women’s Wing in the 1980s and adopted as a deliberate strategy by the Congress to promote the full participation of women workers in leadership and all activities of trade unions in Nigeria.
This position was consolidated by the National Executive Council (NEC) of Congress in March 2001 at Umuahia which took a progressive decision that the Chairpersons and Secretaries of State Women Committees should be mainstreamed into the States Administrative Councils (SACS).
In the same vein the Constitution of the NLC has since been amended to cover the Women Structures. And to increase women representation in the Leadership Structures at the State Council, the Chairpersons of the Women Committees are automatic
Vice Chairpersons of the States Administrative Councils and together with the Secretaries are recognised members of the State Executive Committee (SEC).
In addition, two positions of ex-officio members are exclusively reserved for women in each of the 37 State Councils of the NLC to increase the number of women in leadership positions in the State Councils.It is pertinent to note that the National Women Commission was officially inaugurated at the first NLC National Gender Conference in Bauchi on the 9th September, 2003.
The adoption of the NLC Gender Equity Policy in February, 2003 provided the Women structures the recognition and framework which also led to the amendment of the NLC Constitution to incorporate the women structure and provide the legal backing for the effective operations and strengthening of such women structures both at the State and National levels.
The NLC State Women Committees and the Women Committees of affiliate unions have continued to work with the NLC National Women Commission on issues that affect women, mobilise, campaign and advocate for the implementation of policies for the empowerment of women as stipulated in the NLC Gender Policy in line with other Congress policies, objectives, and constitution.
the same was done at the national level during the 6th NLC National Gender Conference and election of the National Women Commission. In the same vein, we have resolved that women are solely responsible for the conducts and supervision of the women elections as representatives of the NLC Leadership, as electoral officers.
The NLC therefore seeks to promote gender equality, non-discrimination and harassment of women, equal access and opportunity for all in the world of work and society at large. It is therefore our collective responsibility to protect the rights of the working people and to build the capacity of working women to strive and contribute their quota to the development of the unions and society without hindrance.
I therefore appeal to you to give them the maximum cooperation and support in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities. May we continue to work together to support the active participation of women in Leadership positions, which in the long run will help strengthen and sustain the trade unions as democratic and gender sensitive organizations.
