Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that upon assuming office in 1999, factions within Nigeria’s labour movement were allegedly funded by foreign intelligence agencies, including the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the former Soviet Union’s KGB.
Obasanjo said the revelation shaped his decision to initiate sweeping reforms aimed at establishing a truly independent, nationally controlled labour union in Nigeria.
The former president made the disclosure on Wednesday at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, during the 85th birthday celebration and book presentation in honour of a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Hassan Summonu.
According to Obasanjo, Nigeria had two dominant labour centres at the time, both of which were beneficiaries of foreign funding dating back to the Cold War era.
“These two labour organisations are Nigerian labour organisations, but they were not being financed or funded by Nigeria. That was the reality,” Obasanjo stated.
He alleged that one of the labour centres received financial backing from the KGB, while the other was funded by the CIA, adding that such an arrangement was unacceptable to him as Nigeria’s leader.
“One was being financed by KGB, and the other one was being financed by CIA,” he said.
Obasanjo explained that the situation necessitated a comprehensive reform of the labour movement to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty and ensure internal control of organised labour.
“I needed for Nigeria a labour union organised by Nigeria, controlled by Nigeria, and financed by Nigeria. That was why labour reform became necessary,” he noted.
He disclosed that Justice Adebiyi was appointed to oversee the reform process, which ultimately resulted in the emergence of a single national labour body; the Nigeria Labour Congress; without direct government interference in leadership selection.
“Justice Adebiyi completed the assignment, and the labour movement elected its own leader. Hassan Summonu emerged as the first leader under the reformed system,” Obasanjo said.
Reflecting on the outcome, the former president expressed satisfaction with the process, noting that it strengthened labour independence while improving relations between organised labour and the government.
Obasanjo also commended Hassan Summonu for his contributions to labour leadership in Nigeria and for elevating the influence of Nigerian labour movements across Africa and the global stage.
He further revealed that he authored the foreword to Summonu’s newly launched book, highlighting the former labour leader’s role in national development.
