By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Eight years after his failed attempt to become the leader of the country’s workers, which saw him leading a faction, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday became the new President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in grand style, becoming the first in recent years to mount the number one office of organised labour in Nigeria without a contest.
Comrade Ajaero, who was elected the NLC President unopposed, would be replacing the incumbent, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, with whom he locked horns with in 2015 in an election that was first disrupted on February 12, 2015 and rescheduled to March 14, from where Wabba, of the Medical and Health Workers Union, emerged.
Prompt News reports that a factional election held in Lagos on January 20, had seen Ajaegbo, returned unopposed, alongside two Deputy Presidents – the National President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Igwe Achese, and General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Issa Aremu.
But the reconciliation effort, in which the new NLC boss, reverted to his position, saw him, finally emerging at the top position during the Opening Ceremony of 13th National Delegates Conference (NDC) of NLC held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.
“History is already being made here. This is the first time a President of the Nigeria Labour Congress will be elected as a consensus candidate”, Comrade Emeka Kalu, National Vice President (South-East), Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), one of the delegates at the event told reporters in Abuja.
