The
two labour unions in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the
Trade Union Congress on Wednesday described the death of former
President of the NLC, Mr. Pascal Bafyau, who passed on at 11.30pm on
Tuesday as a blow to the democratic process and the labour movement in
the country.
The NLC, in a statement by its
President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, said the late former NLC boss dedicated
his adult life to the Nigeria Labour Movement with his election as
North East Branch Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Railway 1969.
According to him, Bafyau, who was the
Congress President from 1988 to 1994, rose to become the General
Secretary of the NUR in 1982.
Omar said Bafyau would be remembered in
the labour union for the role he played in forging unity within the NLC
which was split between the Democrats and the Progressives in 1988.
He said in spite of the fact that he
became President at a period of turbulence in the country especially
during the June 12 crisis, the late former NLC President was able to
register some commendable achievements.
He listed some of the achievements of
Bafyau to include the construction of the 12-Storey Labour House in
Abuja, the establishment of the Labour Transport Service which is now
referred to as the Labour City Transport, the defunct Labour Bank and
the old Labour Party in 1989.
He said, “Throughout his life, Comrade
Bafyau lived in the best traditions of the Labour Movement. He worked
hard for sustainable democracy in the country.
“He also shunned material things;
despite the height he attained in labour and politics, as at the time of
his death, he lived in a rented house in Abuja.
“His death is a big blow to the Labour Movement and the democratic process in the country.”
President General of the TUC, Mr. Peter
Esele, said Bafyau, who attended crucial labour events when he was
alive shared a lot of experience with leaders of the movement that could
be exploited to improve the movement.
Esele said, “It is a sad day for the
Labour Movement in the country. He will be missed greatly by all. The
former President of the NLC was present during the last May Day and he
shared some experience that could be used to improve the system.
“All we can say is that our people are
with the family at this moment and pray that God will give the family
the fortitude to bear this loss.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said
the late Labour leader made serious contributions to the development of
the labour movement.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity,
Chief Emeka Wogu, in a statement by the Assistant Director in charge of
Press in the Ministry, Mr. Samuel Olowookere, said Bafyau’s demise came
as a shock to the government.
He said the late Bafyau would be
remembered for his resilience and commitment to the improvement of the
welfare of the Nigerian workers.
“We have lost a fore-most labour
leader, an astute politician whose wealth of experience could be drawn
upon as we move towards a paradigm shift in labour government
relationship from adversarial position of industrial relations practice
to a more flexible win-win relationship,” the minister said.
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