Organised Labour has congratulated the pioneer President, of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu and foremost Africa Industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote on the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees on them by the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria as part of the 41st Convocation Ceremony of the University on Saturday.
A statement by the Registrar of the university, Ahmed Abdullahi Kundila, said Aliko Dangote and Comrade Sunmonu are being honoured for their immense contribution to the economic and human development of the nation.
In his congratulatory message to the Awardees, a NEC Member of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and General Secretary of National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Comrade Issa Aremu recalled the outstanding leadership of Comrade Sunmonu as the founding President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) from 1978 to 1984. Remarkably, NLC under his leadership fought and won the battle to make May 1st a public holiday, fought and won the struggle for a new minimum wage of N125 ($240) in 1981 under President Shehu Shagari’s administration. Notwithstanding the divisive strategy of the second Republic politicians aimed at splitting the NLC, Comrade Aremu observed that Sunmonu commendably sustained the unity of the trade union movement through all inclusive ideologically driven movement. As Secretary General of the Organisation of Africa Trade Unions Unity (OATUU) he also ensured that the voice of Africa workers are heard and respected in the global arena.
The labour leader who is also the Vice President of 50-million members Industrial Global Union based in Geneva, Switzerland also said the honouring of Aliko Dangote as a leading African investor and industrialist was well deserved given his globally acknowledged contribution to industrialisation and mass job creation in the continent of Africa. He also hailed the African richest man for his imprints in social responsibility which manifested in the building and commissioning of blocks of hostels worth N1.2 Billion for A.B.U students
Aremu also commended the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria for the recognition of the duo of enterprise and capital represented by Aliko Dangote as well as dignity of Labour represented by Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu through the conferment of the honorary Doctorate degrees. He called on other African universities to learn from ABU that recognition must be given to labour and capital as critical factors of growth and development for Africa.
