The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have described the leadership style of the late unionist, Ali Ciroma as exceptional, saying he exhibited unwavering dedication, unyielding commitment and exceptional leadership that steered the NLC through challenging times.
The unions in different statements said Ciroma left a void in the unions’ hearts and the annals of the labour movement that would be deeply felt for generations to come.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero described Ciroma as a stalwart and a veteran of the labour movement, who served as the President of the NLC from 1984 to 1988.
According to him, he played a very active role in his primary constituency; the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) from where he was elected President of the NLC.
He said late Ciroma stood as a beacon of hope for the downtrodden, tirelessly championing their cause in the face of adversity. He said under his astute leadership, the NLC witnessed remarkable progress and advancement, as well as played a pivotal role in shaping policies that safeguarded the interests of workers, ensuring fair wages, improved working conditions and social justice for all.
“He never ceased to be actively involved in our activities as he refused to allow the disruptive challenges of old age to stop him from lending his strong voice and profound opinions to shaping issues affecting Nigerian workers and masses. He was a soldier to the very end. We will sorely miss him,” Ajaero said.
Similarly, TUC President, Festus Osifo, said Ciroma was a consummate labour leader of distinguished high repute. He said the past President Muhammadu Buhari regime which had seized power on December 31, 1983, was intolerant of opposing views and passed irrational decrees such as Decree 4 of 1984 under which speaking the truth was generally lawless and a punishable offense.
However, Osifo said the Ciroma administration squared up against the stone-faced dictatorship and led workers’ opposition to it including on the issue of mass retrenchment of workers across the country. He said Ciroma supported other mass organisations such as the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) which had to organise a national strike against the regime.
According to him, the Ciroma-led NLC fought the imposition of unpopular International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionalities on the country. “He also led several protests against the fuel price hike and privatisation programmes of President Ibrahim Babangida’s administration.
“When students were shot at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1986, Comrade Chiroma led the labour movement and other mass organisations in the country to protest the senseless and avoidable killings.
“During the 1988 NLC Delegates Conference held in Benin, the military regime backed some candidates against Comrade Chiroma, but his team swept the polls.” An angry General Ibrahim Babangida then issued a decree banning the NLC and imposing a Sole Administration on the NLC. History will be kind to him, he was a man principled and over the decades, avoided the patronage of governments,” he said.
