Former chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyekan Arije, has died at the age of 87, bringing to an end the life of a veteran trade unionist who spent decades fighting for workers and the underprivileged.
Arije died in the early hours of Tuesday, August 18, 2026, according to a statement released on Wednesday by activist lawyer Femi Aborisade on behalf of the deceased’s family.
His death marks the loss of one of the figures who helped shape Nigeria’s labour movement during some of its most politically and economically turbulent years.
Arije’s involvement in the labour movement dates back to the 1960s, when Nigeria was still finding its feet as an independent nation.
For him, trade unionism was not simply about wages, allowances or workplace disputes. It was deeply connected to the broader struggle for social justice and the rights of ordinary Nigerians.
He later rose through the ranks of the labour movement and became chairman of the NLC, serving from the late 1970s into the early 1980s.
Those were difficult years for organised labour, with workers frequently caught between economic hardship, government policies and political tensions.
Arije became part of a generation of labour leaders who viewed the union movement as a platform for challenging inequality and defending the interests of the working class.
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Announcing his passing, Aborisade described the former NLC chairman as a foremost labour leader and socialist whose life was defined by his commitment to the downtrodden.
“With the consent and at the request of the biological children, I announce, with profound sadness, the transition to eternity of Comrade (Pa) Oyekan Arije, a foremost Labour Leader and Socialist,” he said.
Aborisade said Arije died on Tuesday at the age of 87.
He further described the late labour leader as someone who passionately identified with the struggles of workers and disadvantaged Nigerians seeking justice and freedom from economic and political oppression.
A veteran of Nigeria’s labour history
Arije belonged to a generation of unionists for whom activism often extended beyond the workplace.
Their struggles unfolded against the backdrop of military rule, economic difficulties, industrial disputes and growing demands for social and political reforms.
Through the decades, Nigeria’s labour movement became one of the country’s most recognisable voices on issues affecting ordinary citizens.
Arije’s contribution to that history, particularly during his years at the helm of the NLC, has now become part of the country’s broader labour legacy.
He leaves behind his family and a history closely intertwined with the Nigerian working-class movement.
For those who knew his work and ideals, his death is not merely the passing of an 87-year-old former union leader.
It is the departure of one of the voices from an earlier era of Nigeria’s labour struggle, a generation that believed the fight for a better society was worth a lifetime.