•TUC President Festus Osifo
The National Administrative Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has re-elected Festus Osifo as its President for a four-year term.
Osifo, who is serving his second term as the President of the TUC, is also the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), reports The Guardian.
Osifo and the other 18 members of the executive were returned to the office unopposed during the labour centre’s National Delegates Conference and Awards night, which took place in Abuja.
In his acceptance speech, Osifo said: “On behalf of the newly elected members of the National Administrative Council, the class of 2025 to 2029, I wish to accept your nomination and your conferment as members of the National Administrative Council of TUC. I wish to thank you, distinguished delegates, for the confidence you had in us. I wish to thank you for the belief that you have once again reposed in us.”
The TUC President assured that he and his colleagues in NAC will work towards the attainment of the aspirations of the centre in the next four years. “I wish to make this singular promise that we will never let you down. That we will work day and night. We will work with all the affiliates. We will work with the state councils and the Women’s Commission to ensure that the plight of Nigerian workers remains an ongoing concern. We are dedicated to ensuring that the welfare of Nigerian workers remains sacrosanct.
“We will deepen the issue of remuneration and welfare much more than we have ever done before. I can confirm to you that this evening you have elected men of timber and calibre. You have elected astute unionists. You have elected experienced unionists. You have elected people who work in different strata of the Nigerian society,” stated.
Osifo hinted that beyond dialoguing with the government, TUC will engage the private sector to ensure the interests of workers are adequately protected.
His words: “In TUC, most of our affiliates are in the private sector. That means that beyond the issues that we discuss with the government, 80 per cent of our membership is in the private sector. So, we will continuously advocate for those companies that are still preventing workers from unionising. We will take the battle to them. For those affiliates that need great assistance, that need total support, we will be there for you.”
TUC has also created zonal secretariats in the six geo-political zones to be manned by Assistant General Secretaries in its bid to be closer to the people at the local level. Osifo explained that the zones are mandated to work with the state councils for effective collaboration.
The newly elected president also pledged to build a befitting national secretariat for the labour centre before the expiration of his term in office.
He said: “The first task that we have is that we must have a national secretariat of our own. We promise to get this done within the first year in office. We have been working tirelessly to achieve this, but we know that we are going to achieve this in no time. And we will also work with the respective state councils.”
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, who physically attended the delegates’ conference, lauded the delegates for electing capable comrades who have proven their mettle in the past.
He submitted that labour leaders needed at this time were warriors, not compromisers; mobilisers, not bureaucrats. Ajaero held that the working class needs leaders who will confront power with the collective, and who will never trade the people’s mandate for a seat at the oppressors’ table.
He charged returned officers to sustain the struggle for a living wage.
“Come, let us ensure that the remaining places where the national minimum wage is being implemented at the breach are tackled. Join us to make our workplaces a place of safety and not a place to get incapacitated or die! The NLC is ready to deepen collaboration with the TUC to build a stronger, more robust labour movement – one that can deliver real victories for Nigerian workers and the masses. Together, we win. United, we stand and boldly confront the future as it unfolds! In unity, we triumph,” he said.
