Obasanjo: How I cut Nigeria labour unions links with KGB, CIA

Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his decision to reform Nigeria’s labour movement during his time in office was motivated by concerns over foreign influence and the need to establish a truly independent, nationally controlled workers’ union.

Obasanjo made the disclosure on Wednesday while speaking at the 85th birthday celebration and book presentation in honour of a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Hassan Summonu, held in Abuja.

Recalling events preceding the labour reforms, Obasanjo said Nigeria’s labour movement was, at the time, fragmented and heavily influenced by foreign intelligence agencies during the Cold War era.

According to him, the two dominant labour centres operating in the country were allegedly funded by rival foreign powers, a situation he described as unacceptable for a sovereign nation.

He said one of the unions was allegedly financed by the Soviet-era KGB, while the other was backed by the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency.

“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 are Nigerian labour organisations, but they were not being financed or funded by Nigeria.”

I don’t know if you know that, but that was the reality. One was being financed by KGB. That is the truth. And the other one was being financed by CIA. I think Hassan belonged to the one being financed by KGB.

“And then I came on the scene. I needed for Nigeria, a Nigerian labour union, organised by Nigeria, controlled by Nigeria, financed by Nigeria. So I decided there was going to be a labour union reform. And I think the man I put in charge is Justice Adebiyi.”

Obasanjo explained that the perceived external influence over organised labour compelled him to initiate sweeping reforms aimed at unifying the labour movement under a single national structure that would be internally funded and independently run by Nigerians.