On behalf of the National Executive Council of the Union and the generality of our members, we congratulate the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba on his recent election as the President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) by the ITUC General Council at the 4th Congress of ITUC held in Copenhagen, Denmark from 2 – 7 December, 2018.  The theme of the Congress is “Change The Rules.”

This singular historic victory for Comrade Ayuba  Wabba in year of 40^th anniversary of NLC and all its affiliate unions shows that Nigeria Labour movement has come of age in the service of working  women and men of the world. It will be recalled that in June last year (2017), the NLC President, Comrade Wabba was also elected into the Governing Council of International Labour Organisation at the 106th session of International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

It is remarkable that Nigerian trade unionists are taking up leadership roles in the global labour movement.  It will be recalled that the pioneer President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu was the elected General Secretary of the Organisation of Africa Trade Unions Unity (OATUU) for many years.  Some Presidents and General Secretaries of Industrial Unions in Nigeria serve at International Centres which their unions are affiliated to.  The General Secretary of National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Comrade Issa Aremu is the elected Vice Chairman of IndustriALL Global Union with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, representing 50 million workers in 140 countries in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors.

The ITUC’s primary mission is the promotion and defence of workers’ rights and interests, through international cooperation between trade unions, global campaigning and advocacy within the major global institutions.

Comrade Ayuba Wabba is the first African to be elected President of the ITUC.  The election is for a term of 4 years.

The 4th Congress also re-elected Sharan Burrow as General Secretary of the 207 million-member movement.

The challenge before the new leadership of ITUC is to deepen the struggle for decent work through minimum and living wage, the challenge which NLC under Comrade Ayuba Wabba has been creditably pursuing. ITUC must also through engagement with the Africa Union (AU) champion the struggle for the re-industrialization of Africa and creation of sustainable decent work for African youths.

More than 1,200 participants took part in five days of debate to shape the policies and priorities for the international trade union movement for the next four years. The Congress was addressed by Prime Minister of Denmark Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen Frank Jensen and International Labour Organization Director-General Guy Ryder.

Our union as an affiliate of NLC will offer solidarity for successful tenure of Comrade Ayuba!

Comrade Issa Aremu mni