29th April, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State government has honoured some past and present labour unionists who are indigenes of the state, for their tremendous contribution to the welfare of workers.
The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki announced the honour for the labour leaders at the inauguration of the newly-constructed Labour House, in Benin, the state capital.
Forrmost among those honoured are late Pa Michael Imoudu, who is generally regarded as the father of labour unionism in Nigeria and a former president of the NLC, Adams Oshiomhole.
Others are Lasisi Osunde (former secretary of NLC), late Dr Festus Iyayi, Comrade Lawson Osagie, late Jonathan Ihonde, former TUC president, Peter Esele, Dr Osahon Enabulele and the current President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo.
The New Labour House which was built for the NLC and TUC, was named after the past NLC president and immediate past Governor of the State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, while others received various awards and post humor awards respectively.
The NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who delivered the inaugural lecture titled, “Leveraging the legacies of Pa. Michael Imoudu as a way of fostering harmonious and productive industrial relations”, commended the state government for deeming it necessary to honour the labour unionists that contributed during their period in the affairs of organized labour leadership in the country.
The NLC President while speaking on the legacies of the late Pa Michael Imoudu, recalled that the first labour unionist in the country engaged the colonialists for the betterment of the Nigeria workers.
He explained that, he was attacked and harassed as he suffered humiliations and imprisonment in the hands of the colonial masters for workers in the country to have better welfare working conditions.
Meanwhile, Comrade Joe Ajaero has commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for increasing workers’ minimum wage from ₦40,000 to ₦70,000.
Ajaero described the increment as a demonstration of the government’s empathy and commitment to its workforce.