NUFBTE, NUTGTWN call for more participation of labour leaders, trade unionists in politics

Stories by Soji-Eze Fagbemi

 

THE National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), and the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) have called for more participation of labour leaders and trade unionists in politics.

President of NUFBTE, Comrade Lateef Idowu Oyelekan and the President of NUTGTWN, Comrade John Adaji, made the call at a retreat held in Lagos, while extolling the virtues of Hon. Aminu Suleiman Goro, a former labour leader now representing Kano State in the National Assembly.

They stated that involvement and participation of more Nigerian workers and trade unionists in politics was imperative at this crucial time, as Nigerians continued to yearn for good leaders to save the country from total collapse.

Speaking, Comrade Oyelekan and his counterpart in the NUTGTWN, Comrade Adaji said Hon. Goro had been a good representative of the Nigerian workers at the National Assembly.

Comrade Oyelekan, also a vice president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) described the lawmaker from Kano as one of the best political leaders in Nigeria as he had proved himself through innumerable works.

He said: “I still believe that there is hope for Nigeria. God has really blessed our country with so many mineral resources, but the problem is to find good leaders to harness these resources.

“Aminu has really proved himself, he has empowered so many people in his constituency through many programmes. We have gotten the news of his so many exploits and we are not surprised because he’s a labour man. Whereas so many people up there do not want to identify with the masses.

“If we have identified people doing well, we have to support such a leader and it won’t be out of place for us to recommend him for governorship or even president because it’s a call to serve and we know that he will deliver.”

He pointed out that labour could only succeed in providing good leadership for the country by full participation of workers in politics and supporting those already identified among them.

“If we identify anybody, we should all put hands together to push him up. The question should not be how much wealth you have acquired, but how many lives touched,” he said.

Also, Comrade Adaji, whose union produced Honourable Goro said the lawmaker had been a good representative, assuring Kano people that they would never be disappointed if given the opportunity to lead.

“What he is doing is unprecedented. We in the textile union are happy that Aminu has touched so many lives and created jobs for thousands since he got into the National Assembly.

“We believe that God still has greater responsibility for him and all of us in his primary constituency, which is labour, should rally round him so that he will succeed,” he said.

Responding, Comrade Goro, who is serving his third term in the House of Representatives stated that some people had the misconception that activism was for mediocre, but noted that such misconception had since been proved untrue as members of the organised labour in politics had been able to contribute positively to national development.

He said if given the opportunity to govern Kano State in 2023, it would only be a further call to serve in higher dispensation.

He said, “I’m  proud to identify labour as my constituency. My union has been very supportive. In politics, we serve people, in labour we serve workers. It’s the extension of service, that’s why in 2011 after our inauguration I was the first to move a motion.

“If I leave politics today, I have done what in ten decades people will not forget. I’ve removed graduate from the street, 1,800 graduates and sub-degree holders out of idleness, improved secondary schools in my constituency, built two new secondary schools, a model college, with another one for the girl child, built hospital, tarred roads, provided street lights powered by solar, empowered over 5,000 women through vocational trainings after which we gave them tools for their trades.”

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