Preamble

We the democrats of Nigeria, inspired by the urgent need to change the shape, content and character of partisan politics in Nigeria to that based on issues and identifiable ideology, which is also pre-requisite for governance based on commitment to ideals; have decided to bind to form the Labour Party (LP).

For the avoidance of doubt, Social Democrats include the working class, farmers, professionals, intellectuals, students, women, and all other Nigerians who accept the ideals of Social Democracy as enumerated in the aims and objectives of the Party as found in this constitution.

In forming the Labour Party, we affirm our commitment to the unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the leading role of the Nigerian state in the economic and social empowerment of all Nigerians as a pre-requisite for sustainable democracy and prosperity of the people.

Constitution of Labour Party (LP)

ArticleI i name

The name of the party shall be known as and called “Labour Party”.

Article ii motto

The motto of the party shall be “Equal opportunity and social justice”

Article iii slogan

The slogan of the party shall be “forward ever, backward never”.

Article iv logo

The logo of the party shall be the wheel with a man and a woman with a child engraved in the centre.
. The wheel stands for industry and work as basis for economic empowerment of the populace and the prosperity of the nation, i.e. continuous economic growth and development.
. The linkage between the wheel and man, woman and child, connotes the governance, economic and social development must to the advancement of human beings.

Article v flag

The flag of the party shall be red and green, both equal in size, placed vertically. Red, representing transformation, and green, agriculture. The logo of the party shall be at the center of the flag with white background.

Article vi registered office

The registered national office of the party shall be at Labour House, Central Business Area, Garki, Abuja.

Article vii aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of the party are:
1. To democratically seek political power and sustain same for the purpose of enacting a government that shall pursue social democracy programmes as basis for good governance, as prerequisite for sustainable democracy and national prosperity.
2. To foster a party that shall be rooted and sustained by the commitment of all social democrats. Consequently, the Party shall be open to all Nigerians irrespective of gender, religion, state and ethnic background who accept the Party’s constitution, manifesto and programmes.
3. To create a new Nigerian personality who would be patriotic, altruistic, transparent and committed to due process, and rule of law in governance, industry and other spheres of our national life.
4. To faithfully work towards translating to reality, the fundamental objectives and principles of state policy contained in the 1999 Nigerian constitution by making them justiciable.
5. To foster a state based on full and gainful employment and access to free and compulsory education at all levels; health care and social security schemes for the vulnerable, i.e. disabled, the aged and pensioners.
6. To foster self-sufficiency of the country in food production.
7. To consciously narrow the social economic gap between the urban and rural dwellers in the spheres of access to basic necessities infrastructure quality of life.
8. To broaden participation in governance at all levels by ensuring that the costs of the electoral process do not constitute hindrance to any Nigerian.
9. To ensure gender balance in governance.
10. To create enabling environment for the private sector, and adequately protect them and encourage them to compete with foreign investors.
11. To sustain and defend democracy in Nigeria, continually expand the democratic space and culture, strengthen press freedom and guarantee the unfettered right to peaceful protests and assembly.
12. To promote rapid technological and scientific advancement of Nigeria as basis for bailing the country out of its present status of under development to an industrialized country within 20 years.
13. To provide alternative views on all national issues consistent with the ideal of social democracy and canvass same.
14. To promote and defend the political interests of working people, businessmen and women and patriotic entrepreneurs.
15. To constantly organize political and voters education programme and publish party literatures, newspapers, etc.

Article viii membership

The membership of the party shall be open to all Nigerians who accept its ideology , programmes and the constitution, irrespective of their religion, ethnic, gender, social and economic status provided that:-
1 The person is 18 years of age and above.
2 The person does not belong to any other political party’
3 NEC shall determine platform membership for organizations whose members individually decide to be members of the party as a group
4 NEC shall decide from time to time representation of platform membership in the various organs of the party.

Article ix procedure for membership

1 Every member shall fill a prescribed membership application form and pay membership fee of fifty naira (N50.00) or as NEC shall fix from time to time.
2 Every member shall be issued a membership card, which shall indicate other details including monthly subscriptions

Article x Membership obligations to the party

1 Every member of the party shall accept the principle of equality of all members irrespective of his/her economic status.
2 Every member shall renew his/her membership card every three (3) years by paying the prescribed fee.
3 Only members who pay their monthly membership dues at rates prescribed shall be deemed to be bona fide members of the party. Arrears of dues of up to six months, except exempted by an appropriate organ of the party, may lead to forfeiture of membership.
4 Every member shall be required to faithfully work towards the attainment of the aims and objectives as contained in article vii and abide by lawful decisions of all organs of the party.
5 No member shall engage in anti-party activities and shall refrain from putting the party into discipline.
6 No member shall directly or indirectly belong to another political party or act to further the aims and objectives of any other political party.

Article xi rights and privileges of membership

1 Every member shall have the right to speak and vote on any issue at any meeting of any organ of the party he/she rightly belongs to.
2 Every member shall have the right to vote and be voted for elective posts, in any organ of the party, subject to guidelines by the NEC or any organ so designated.
3 Every member shall have the right to stand for election to the legislative houses, and political offices subject to the approved guidelines by the NEC of the party for determining the party’s candidates for elections.
4 Every member shall be encouraged to participate in the political education of the party necessary for preparing them for responsibilities in the party and the nation.

Article xii party structures (organs)

1 Ward congress
2 Ward Executive Committee
3 Local Government Area Committee
4 Local Government Area Executive Committee
5 State Congress
6 State Executive Council
7 State Working Committee
8 National Convention
9 National Executive Council
10 National Working Committee
The composition of all national organs of the party, that is, the NEC and NWC, shall represent the federal character of states of not less than two thirds of the existing states and the Federal Capital, Abuja.

Article xiii composition, functions and powers of party organs

A. Ward

A1. Annual Ward Congress.
Every ward shall hold Annual ward Congress.

Composition
1 All members of the party in the ward who are not in arrears of dues for not more than three (3) months shall be delegates.
2 All members of the Ward Executive Committee.

Functions of Ward Congress
1 To elect delegates to the LGA, and State Congresses of the Party.
2 To elect members of the Ward Executive Committee.
3 To determine the Party’s candidate for councillorship elections on the basis of the Party’s guidelines.
4 To approve the budget of the Party in the Ward.
5 To improve disciplinary sanctions (except expulsion) on any erring or defaulting member.
6 Take any other lawful action in the best interest of the Party in the Ward.
7 To consider and approve the Ward Executive Committee’s Report, the Financial and the Auditor’s Reports.
8 Receive and evaluate performance report of the Councilor representing the Ward.

A2. Ward Executive Committee
Composition
The Ward Committee shall be elected at the Annual Ward Congress and shall be composed as follows:
- Chairperson
- Two Vice chairpersons (one male and one female)
- Secretary
- Assistant Secretary
- Treasurer
- Financial secretary
- Publicity secretary
- Auditor
Local Government Chairperson and or Councilor if produced by the Party shall be ex-officio members.
The Ward Executive Committee shall meet at least once every month.
Functions of Ward Executive Committee
(i) To organize ward Congress and implement its decisions and to convene Ward General Meetings.
(ii) To propose policies for the consideration of the Ward Congress.
(iii) To undertake membership drive, propagate the ideology, programme and manifesto of the Party and also implement the political education programme of the Party.
(iv) To prepare the annual budget for the approval of the Ward Congress.
(v) Evaluate and periodically monitor the performance of the councilor.
(vi) To take any other lawful actions in the interest of the Party.

B. Local Government Area (LGA)

B1. LGA Congress
Every Local Government Area shall hold Biennial Congress.
Composition of the LGA Congress
(a) All members of the Executive Committee of each Ward.
(b) All members of the LGA Executive Committee.
(c) Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and Councilors of the Local Government if produced by the Party.
(d) Members of the State House of Assembly, i.e. if they are produced by the party and hail from the LGA.
(e) State Party officers who hail from the LGA.
(f) Delegates elected by the Congress of each Ward within the LGA.
Functions of the LGA Congress
(i) To elect members of LGA Executive Committee.
(ii) To elect delegates to the state congress of the Party.
(iii) To ratify disciplinary measures taken by the LGA Executive Committee.
(iv) To approve the Party’s budget of the LGA.
(v) To determine the Party’s candidate for chairpersonship of the LGA and the deputy on the basis of the party guidelines.
(vi) To evolve Party’s policies for the LGA.
(vii) To take any lawful decisions in the best interest of the Party in LGA.
(viii) To consider and approve Local Government Executive Committee Report, the Financial Report and the Auditor’s Report.
(ix) To receive and evaluate the activities of the Local Government if controlled by the party of the Councilors it the party is in opposition.
B2. Local Government LGA Executive Committee
Composition of the LGA Executive Committee
The LGA Executive Committee shall comprise the following officers and ex-officio members:-
(i) Chairperson
(ii) Four (4) Vice Chairpersons, one of which must be a female and at least one representative for the platforms.
(iii) Secretary
(iv) Three (3) Assistant Secretaries for welfare, Education and Guidance and Organization.
(v) Treasurer
(vi) Financial Secretary
(vii) Publicity secretary
(viii) Auditor
(ix) Ward Chairperson and Secretaries
(x) Chairpersons and Deputy Chairperson of the Local Government if produced by the Party.
(xi) All State Party officials who hail from the Local Government it shall meet at least once every two months.
Functions of the Local Government executive Committee
(i) To organize the LGA Congress and implement its decisions.
(ii) To propose policies for the consideration of the LGA Congress.
(iii) To undertake membership drive and propagate the ideology and manifesto of the Party’s political programme in the Wards.
(iv) To issue rules and regulations for the Party administration in the LGA including coordination of the activities of the Ward Committee.
(v) To undertake any other lawful activity or measure in the best interest of the Party in the LGA, subject to ratification by the LGA Congress.
(vi) To receive and periodically evaluate the activities of the Local Government, if controlled by the Party or the activities of the Councilors if the Party is in the opposition.
(vii) To prepare the annual budget of the Party.

C. State Congress

C1. Every State shall hold state congress every three (3) years.
Composition of the State Congress.
(i) All members of state Executive Council of the party.
(ii) The Governor, the Deputy Governor and Commissioners of the state if produced by the Party.
(iii) All ministers who are members of the Party and hail from the State.
(iv) All legislators (Federal, State and Local Government) produced by the Party who hail from the state.
(v) All members of the Local Government Executive Committee of that Party.
(vi) All members of the National Executive Committee of the Party who hail from the state.
(vii) Delegates elected by the Congress of each LGA within the state.
Functions of the State Congress
(i) To elect delegates to the National Convention of the Party.
(ii) To consider the reports of the State Working Committee including the Financial and Auditor’s reports.
(iii) To discipline Party members in the State (except expulsion) and ratify disciplinary measures by LGA organs of the Party.
(iv) Elect the governorship candidate of the Party in the state including the deputy governor on the basis of the party’s guidelines.
(v) To approve the Party’s programme to be put to the electorate for elections.
(vi) To take any other lawful decision in the best interest of the party in the state.
(vii) To receive and evaluate the performance of the state government.
C2. State Executive Council (SEC)
Composition of the State Executive Council
The State Executive Committee shall comprise of:-
(a) Chairmanship.
(b) Six (6) Deputy Chairpersons, one (1) each from the senatorial Districts; one female and at least one representing the platforms.
(c) The Governor and the Deputy Governor if produced by the party.
(d) The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, if produced by the party; the Leader and the Deputy Leader of the Party in the State House of Assembly.
(e) Secretary
(f) Two (2) Assistant Secretaries Administration and Education.
(g) Treasurer
(h) Financial Secretary
(i) Organizing Secretary
(j) Publicity Secretary
(k) Legal Adviser
(l) Auditor
(m) All National Officers of the Party who hail from the State
(n) Chairpersons and Secretaries of all the Local Government Councils if produced by the party.
(o) All Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the Local Government Councils if produced by the Party.
It shall meet at least once every three months.
Functions of the State Executive Council
1. To coordinate the activities of all organs of the Party in the state and ensure their viability.
2. To organize the Party’s election campaigns.
3. To propagate the party’s ideology, programme and manifestoes and implement the education programme of the party.
4. To implement the decisions and directives of the State Congress National Executive Council and the National Convention.
5. To consider the report of the State Working Committee, the Financial and the Auditor’s reports and approve the budget for the state.
6. To receive and periodically evaluate and monitor the performance and activities of the state government.
C3. Composition of the State Working Committee
It shall be composed of all elected officials of the State Executive Council as well as the Governor, the Deputy Governor if produced by the party, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker if produced by the party.
1. It shall in between meetings of the State Executive Council administer the Party.
2. It shall prepare the report of the State Working Committee for presentation to the State Executive Council.
3. It shall prepare the annual budget to be presented to the State Executive Council.
4. It shall consider the reports of the Treasurer and Financial Secretary for the approval of State Executive Council.
5. It shall take such measures that are expedient and necessary for the smooth running or the party.
6. It shall on behalf of the State Executive Council liaise and consult with members of the Party elected to the State Legislature or appointed to governmental posts to ensure that they act tin consonance with the manifesto and programme of the party.

D. National Convention

D1. The National convention shall hold every four years.
Composition
(i) All members of the National Executive Committee.
(ii) The president and vice president of Nigeria if produced by the party.
(iii) All legislators (National, State, Local Government) produced by the party.
(iv) Ministers produced by the party.
(v) Governors and Deputy Governors produced by the party.
(vi) Stated Commissioners produced by the party.
(vii) All members of State Executive Committees.
(viii) Delegates elected by the congress of each state within the Federation including Abuja.
Functions of the National Convention
(1) To decide the nationwide policies and programmes of the party.
(2) To receive reports and recommendations from the National Executive Committee and take decisions on them.
(3) To delegate any of its functions and power to the National Executive Committee or any other organ of the party.
(4) To elect National Officers of the Party and constitute the National Executive Committee. To determine the Party’s Presidential candidate and his running mate on the basis of the Party’s guidelines to amend the constitution of the party.
(5) To exercise such other powers and functions as provided by the constitution.
D2. National Executive Council (NEC)
The composition of the National Executive Council shall comprise of:-
(a) National Chairperson
(b) Three (3) National Deputy Chairpersons at least one of whom must be a female and the other a representative of the platform.
(c) The President, Vice President, the President of the Senate and the Deputy Speaker of the house of Representative and all the Governors if produced by the party.
(d) Chairpersons and Secretaries of State Executive Committee of the party.
(e) Six (6) National Vice Chairpersons representing the six geographical zones of the country.
(f) National Secretary
(g) Two (2) National Deputy Secretaries
(h) National Treasurer
(i) Financial Secretary
(j) National Publicity Secretary
(k) National Organizing Secretary
(l) National Legal Adviser
(m) National Auditor
(n) Ex-officio members to be appointed by the National Executive Council.
Functions of the National Executive Council
(ix) To be responsible for the overall administration and organization of the Party.
(ii) To prepare the agenda, organize the national convention as and when due and implement its decisions and directives.
(iii) To prepare and submit reports and recommendations for the considerations of the National Convention.
(iv) To prepare draft policies and programmes for the consideration of the National Convention.
(v) To deal with problems referred to it by lower organs of the party.
(vi) To make rules for party discipline and loyalty, which shall be binding on all organs and members of the party.
(vii) To approve the annual budget of the party.
(viii) The NEC shall have the powers to decide on and convene Special National Conventions and Congress.
(ix) To employ and determine the conditions of service of the National Officers of the Party.
(x) To monitor, guide and supervise the lower organs of the party.
(xi) To raise funds for the party.

E. Special National Convention/Congress

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections D1, C1, B1, and A1, there shall be special National Conventions and Congresses to address specific issues concerning the party when the need arises.

F. Functions and powers of Chairperson

1. The national Chairperson
(a) The national Chairperson shall give leadership to the party and preside over all meetings of the National Executive Committee and National Working Committee.
(b) Shall approve all expenditures and shall be a signatory to the party’s bank account(s).
2. National Deputy Chairpersons
(a) The Deputy Chairpersons shall assist and preside at meetings in the absence of the National Chairperson.
(b) They shall be assigned specific functions.
3. National Vice Chairpersons
(a) They shall act in the absence of the Deputy Chairpersons.
(b) They shall be assigned specific functions.
4. National Secretary
(a) He/she shall be the Principal Administrative Officer of the party and shall be in charge of the day to day running of the affairs of the party.
(b) He/she shall be a signatory to the party’s bank accounts and shall recommend major expenditure to the Chairperson for approval.
5. Six (6) National Deputy Secretaries
(a) They shall assist the National Secretary. Any of them may be assigned by the NEC to act on his behalf.
(b) They shall be assigned specific functions.
6. National Treasurer
(a) He/she shall be responsible for the proper administration of the party’s finances and shall be one of the signatories to the party’s bank account(s).
(b) He/she shall ensure the preparation of the Annual Reports on Finances of the Party including compilation of the party’s assets and liabilities and make same available to INEC from time to time.
7. Financial Secretary
He/she shall be responsible for proper keeping and compilation of records on party finance and generally assist the National Treasurer.
8. National Publicity Secretary
(a) He/she shall be responsible for the publicity of the party and its activities.
(b) He/she shall be responsible for the production and publication of party literatures, newspapers, etc.
9. National Organizing Secretary
He/she shall be responsible for the effective organization of the party.
10. National Legal Adviser
He/she shall be responsible for the effective organization of the party.
11. National Auditor
He/she shall be responsible for proper and accurate auditing of the party’s finances.

G. National Working Committee

There shall be a National Working Committee

Composition
All elected National Officers of the Party.

H. Functions of the National Working Committee

(i) It shall in between meetings of the NEC administer the party.
(ii) It shall be fully accountable to the NEC.
(iii) It shall prepare draft, policy documents for the consideration of the NEC.
(iv) It shall prepare the annual budget and submit same to the NEC for approval.
(v) It shall take such measures that are necessary and expedient for protecting the unity and viability of the party at all levels.

I. Functions of Officers (Ward, Local Government and State)

The functions of officers of the party at other levels (Ward, LGA and State) shall derive from that of the National.

J. Tenure of Office

(i) All National Officers of the party shall hold officer for a period of four years and shall be eligible for re-election.
(ii) All State Officers of the party shall hold office for a period of three (3) years and shall be eligible for re-election.
(iii) All Local Government officers of the party shall hold office for a period of two (2) years and shall be eligible for re-election.
(iv) All ward Officers of the party shall hold office for a period of one (1) year and shall be eligible for re-election.

K. Party Discipline

(i) Discipline members
(a) Discipline members shall be exercised through respective Disciplinary Committees of the party at the appropriate levels and shall be governed by due process and fair hearing as may be stipulated by ancillary party regulation and the party’s code of conduct, moral/ethnic codes.
(b) Any member of the party found guilty of the following offences shall face disciplinary action:-
1. A breach of provisions of the constitution.
2. Anti-party activities or conducting self in a manner likely to embarrass the party or bring it into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute in whatever manner.
3. Disobedience or negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party or of the offices of the party.
4. Indiscipline at meetings including disruption of meetings.
5. Flouting the rulings or decisions of the party; continuously being absent at meetings, carrying out anti-party propaganda or any other activities which would tend to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient organization of the party or which are inconsistent with the achievement of the aims and objectives of the party.
6. Assuming titles not recognized by the constitution of the party; giving wrong information to any organ of the party; unauthorized publicity of the party dispute-related grievance without exhausting all avenues of settlement or redress within the party.

(ii) Disciplinary Action

(a) Disciplinary measures may be imposed by the party against any of its members and the gravity of the disciplinary measures shall depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of each case.
(b) Disciplinary measure to be imposed may take the form of:-
1. Expulsion from the party, provided that the power to expel shall only be exercised by the National Convention.
2. Suspension for specified period.
3. Suspension and removal from office.
4. Fine
5. Warning (1st and 2nd).
(c) Subject to (a) above, the Executive Committee at the relevant level of the party shall have the power to decide on any of the disciplinary measures, against any party member as specified in the subsection above.
(d) Every member shall have the right of fair hearing in all matters that affect him/her with regards to discipline, and the right of appeal against the disposal of his/her case.
(e) The National Headquarters shall be notified through the next higher organ of the party (if any), of all disciplinary actions taken against any member of the party and records of such actions shall be kept by the National Secretary at the National level or Secretary at the State, Local Government and Ward levels of the party.

(iii) Appeal

(a) Any member aggrieved by disciplinary actions of any of the party shall have the right to appeal within 30 days of such decision to the Zonal Caucus of his/her area. In the event of further dissatisfaction following disposal at this level, then the appellant shall be free to appeal to the NEC of the party.
(b) Pending the determination of an appeal in respect of expulsion, or other disciplinary measures, the member concerned shall be placed under suspension. No information in respect of the expulsion shall be made public until the expulsion is ratified by the National Convention.
(c) Any member placed under suspension shall not take part in activities.

L. Oath of Office

Every officer elected or appointed to a party position shall subscribe to a prescribed Oath of Office.

M. Quorum

One third (1/3) of all eligible delegates to the various Congresses and Convention shall form the quorum. One third (1/3) of all eligible members shall form the quorum for the working Committees and one third (1/3) of all eligible members for meetings of the Executive Council.

N. Method of Voting

Voting in all meetings shall be by:-

(i) Acclamation
(ii) Show of hands
(iii) Secret ballot

O. Party Finances

(a) Income: the funds of the party shall be derived from:-

(i) Monthly dues at the rate of N100,00 per member or as the NEC of the party may decide from time to time.
(ii) Donations and public collection proceeds from investments and special fund raising activities.
(iii) Levies
(iv) Gifts and grants by individuals or groups.
(v) Allocations made by government where legally applicable; provided that collections and disbursements shall conform to guidelines of the INEC.
(b) Distribution of Funds: monthly membership dues shall be distributed as follows:-

(i) Ward - 20%
(ii) LGA - 15%
(iii) State - 25%
(iv) National - 40%

(c) Bank Accounts

(i) The party shall maintain bank accounts in the Headquarters of the National, State, Local Government and Ward levels of the party, provided that where banking facilities are not available, the nearest bank facilities shall be utilized.
(ii) The Executive Committees of the various levels of organization shall decide the banks for such accounts.
(iii) Any two of the following officers of the party, one of whom shall be the chairman, shall be valid signatories to the party’s bank accounts and other financial transaction:-
(1) The National Chairman and his/her counterparts in the State, LGA, and Ward levels.
(2) The National Treasure and his/her counterparts in the State, LGA, and Ward levels.
(3) The National Secretary and his/her counterparts at the State, LGA, and Ward levels.

P. Amendment of the Constitution

The National Convention of the Party shall have the sole right of amending any provision of this Constitution based on a majority vote, provided that the amendment does not contravene any of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and shall be registered in the principal offices of INEC within 30 days.