NLC Elects New Leaders, Retains Omar As President •Insists on Instant Payment of New Wage

Posted by admin Headlines Saturday, March 5th, 2011

omrade Abdulwaheed Omar was re-elected as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in an election, on Friday, in Abuja.

National president of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Promise Adewusi and Comrades Ajaero Joseph of NUEE and National President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Shuaib Kiri Mohammed, won the three deputy president positions.

The new leaders of the labour group emerged with a mandate to ensure that the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage commences before the April elections.

Comrade Peters Adeyemi, a former deputy president of NLC and General Secretary on the Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) lost out in the election that was conducted by the electoral committee led by Comrade Ladi Illiya, National President of NASU.

Announcing the results of the election at 6.30 a.m. on Friday, a former president of NLC, Comrade Ali Chiroma, said Omar was returned unopposed.

The upset came in the election of the deputy presidents where Comrade Adeyemi, believed to be one of the most powerful and popular in the labour movement, especially at the NLC, lost out.

Chiroma, in announcing the result, said Adewusi scored the highest votes of 1,349 in the deputy president election, while Comrade Ajaero scored 1,337 votes and Kiri, 1,260 votes to emerge deputy presidents.

For the vice president positions, Comrade Yisa Aremu, General Secretary of Textile Union, scored 1,524 votes, Comrade Lawal Hussaini (NANNM) scored 1,195 votes, Comrade Anthony Emmanuel (Maritime) scored 1,152 votes and Comrade Emmanuel Ajoku (AUPCTRE) scored 1,139 votes to win the four slots. Comrade Lateef Oyelekan (NUFBTE) lost out after scoring 567 votes.

Comrade Ayuba Wabba (Medical Health Union) returned unopposed as the treasurer, while Comrade Bomiface Isok (NUCFRLNMPE) scored 1,228 votes to emerge the winner of the post of deputy national treasurer and Comrade Leke Success lost, scoring 511 votes.

Comrade Achese Igwe (NUPENG) scored 1,400 to emerge the trustee, defeating Comrade Ola Elijah who scored 558 votes.

For the posts of national auditors, Comrade Samuel Adeoye (NUCECFWW) scored 1,422 votes, Comrade Abdullahi Bungudu (AAEUN), 1,411 votes, and Comrade Danjuma Kunini (NUPPPROW) scored 1,404 votes to clinch victory, while Comrade Alhassan Sunday (NUPTE) scored 603.

Comrade Amina Danesi (ASSIBIFI) scored 1,1415 votes and Comrade Sarah Gana (NUCSSASw) scored 1,1412 votes to emerge ex-officio, defeating Comrade Coretta Balogun (RATTAWU), who scored 583 votes.

The election started at about 12 noon on Thursday with registration of delegates and ended at about 6.00 a.m. on Friday.

In his acceptance speech, Omar said the new leadership of the union would not rest until the welfare of Nigerian workers is enhanced.

He declared that the next four years would witness tremendous change in the labour movement with the new crop of leaders.

According to him, it was a must for all states of the federation to pay the N18,000 minimum wage, as the NLC would make sure this is achieved whatever it will cost them.

Adewusi said the immediate challenge before the new leaders was to ensure that the implementation of the new wage commenced immediately, before the April elections.

-Tribunewp_posts