2019: Labour leaders jostle for political offices as Kaigama, Olorunfemi, Aremu pick nomination forms

Prominent labour leaders across the country are already picking nomination forms to contest for different political offices during the party primary of their respective political parties.

The labour leaders intensify their interest to offer themselves for service in higher offices, just has the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has assured that the workers would support them fully under any political platform they choose.

Late week, the President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, obtained a nomination form for gubernatorial seat of Taraba State, under the All Progressive Congress (APC); while the General Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SASCGOC), also an affiliate of TUC, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi, obtained a nomination form for House of Representatives under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Akoko North East and Akoko North West Federal constituency in Ondo State.

Earlier, the General Secretary of Textile Workers and member of NLC National Executive Council, Comrade Issa Aremu, obtained nomination form for Kwara State governorship position under the Labour Party.

Happy with this development, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the organised labour would encourage more workers and their leaders to go into politics, and that all the workers across the country will be mobilised to support them.

Wabba, pointed out that these labour leaders are qualified and capable to deliver, adding that they would be supported under whichever political parties they adopt.

The NLC president added that they would not be so fixated to insist that all workers or labour leaders should contest under the Labour Party.

Wabba, who spoke in an interview with Nigerian Tribune said: “Let me tell you our approach to the whole issue; we are going to support workers and people of integrity to go into politics because if you say it is a dirty game and you leave it to few, it will continue to be so. So, whatever platform that those workers, or those our partners will be using, we will support it.

“We cannot put our eggs in one basket. Yes, it is true we are working to revive Labour Party and we are making progress but it is not only a party for election, no.  It is a party that will have a very clear ideology and philosophy to represent the interest of working class, the poor and the downtrodden.

“I think the approach now, if you look at the situation of Nigeria, is to look at our people, our workers, our members, which ever platform they choose, we will support them because if they are there, they can be able to bring about the change; but not to be fixated to say, no they have to be on Labour Party platform.

“If we have such people, we also thought that we will support them but importantly we are working assiduously to also revive the Labour Party.”

• NULGE gets new president in Taraba

Kaigama who spoke on his aspiration after he collection of his gubernatorial nomination form said his priority is to improve the living condition of the ordinary people of Taraba State and the development of the state.

The TUC president, who condemned the failure of many of the state governors to pay salary and pensions blamed their failure on over reliance on allocation from the Federation Account and corruption.

He promised to work assiduously to improve on the internally generated revenue (IGR) and provide jobs through agriculture and tapping into natural resources.

Citing Edo State, where the former governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who is now the national chairman of APC, increased the minimum wage and pay salaries as at when due, Kaigama said there is no reason or justification for any governor not to pay workers’ salaries and ensure a good living for the generality of his people.

Also, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi said with the little resources that would be available to him if elected, he would liaise and partner with investors to open up his constituency by bring in cottage industries that would process the many raw materials they have in his area.

He said his constituency has a comparative advantages in many areas, such us agriculture and education, which he would use to create jobs and businesses for his people.

Already, Olorunfemi has a school, NCE with tuition free for all the students which he runs in the constituency.

He pointed out that with an opportunity to be at the House of Representatives, he would intensify and do more on the education of his people to liberated them from poverty and lack.

The labour leader stated that he was invited by the people, especially the youth in his constituency just because of the little he was providing for the people through the NCE and would not want to disappoint them.

At the national level, he said he would work with like minds to raise the real issue of fundamental problems in the country.