Sokoto State Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress has been completely destroyed by a midnight fire, barely 24 hours after workers marked the annual International Workers’ Day.
The secretariat, situated near the Sokoto office of the West African Examinations Council and within close proximity to the zonal offices of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, reportedly went up in flames around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Eyewitnesses who rushed to the scene described the fire as intense and uncontrollable.
“When we saw the huge bright fire accompanied by thick smoke coming from that direction, we rushed to the place. But while there, we could do literally little because of the intensity of the fire,” one eyewitness said.
Another witness noted that the building had already been reduced to rubble before any meaningful assistance could arrive.
Members of the labour union expressed deep concern over the incident, describing it as a major setback. According to one official who spoke anonymously, vital office equipment, critical documents, and other operational materials were lost in the blaze.
When asked about the possible cause of the fire, the official suggested it could be linked to power issues.
He said persistent electricity fluctuations in Sokoto State have been responsible for many fire outbreaks in recent times.
Reacting to the incident, Sokoto State NLC Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu, popularly known as “Jungle,” described the development as both unfortunate and disheartening.
“This is a painful loss for the labour movement in Sokoto. The extent of destruction is enormous, and it comes at a time we were just reflecting on the significance of workers’ welfare and unity,” he said.
As investigations begin to determine the exact cause of the fire, labour leaders and concerned residents are calling on authorities to conduct a thorough probe. They also urged for urgent support to rebuild the secretariat and ensure the smooth continuation of union activities in the state.
