The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Emmanuel Ugboaja, has died at the age of 60 after a prolonged illness.

Ugboaja’s death was announced by NLC President Joe Ajaero during the Congress National Executive Council meeting in Enugu on Thursday, according to reports by Tribune newspapers.

Ajaero reportedly read a letter from Ugboaja’s family informing delegates of his death. Details surrounding his illness and death were not immediately disclosed.

Ugboaja, a lawyer and veteran trade unionist, had served as NLC General Secretary since August 2019 after his appointment was ratified by the Congress’s National Executive Council in Kano. He succeeded Peter Ozo-Eson.

As general secretary, Ugboaja coordinated the NLC’s administrative and strategic operations, including relations with affiliate unions, industrial relations, negotiations with government and employers, policy implementation and nationwide mobilisation.

His tenure covered several major disputes between organised labour and successive governments over wages, workers’ welfare and economic policies.

One of his early major assignments was the negotiation over the implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage approved by the Federal Government in 2019. Disagreements over its implementation brought the government and organised labour close to industrial action before an agreement was reached.

Ugboaja remained active in subsequent negotiations and campaigns concerning workers’ wages and welfare.

In April 2026, he signed an NLC directive urging workers in states that had not fully implemented the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act to participate in nationwide street rallies on May Day.

Born on May 15, 1966, Ugboaja studied Law at the University of Calabar and graduated in 1987. He spent about four years in private legal practice before joining the trade union movement in 1993.

According to the NLC’s historical biography, his entry into the labour movement made him the first Nigerian lawyer to work full-time for a trade union.

He began his trade union career with the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, where he rose to become general secretary from 2000 to 2005.

He later served as Coordinator of Advocacy and Mobilisation at the Alliance for Credible Elections between 2006 and 2009 before joining the NLC Secretariat in 2009.

His death comes as organised labour continues to engage the Federal Government and state authorities over the implementation of the new minimum wage, workers’ welfare and the impact of ongoing economic reforms.

The NLC is expected to issue further statements on his death and funeral arrangements.