By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), immediate past president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, and others across Nigeria have paid tribute to the legacy of former NLC president, Ali Chiroma, who passed away recently at the age of 91.
Ciroma’s death marks the end of a notable seven-decade-long journey devoted to serving the working people of Nigeria and advocating for social justice.
The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero described his death as a monumental loss which “Has left a void in the annals of the labour movement that will be deeply felt for generations to come.”
Chiroma was born on February 27, 1933 in Yerwa in Borno state from where he began his education and trained as a Health technologist.
He served as the President of the NLC from 1984 to 1988 exhibiting unwavering dedication, unyielding commitment, and exceptional leadership that steered the NLC through challenging time.
“Beyond his role as a labor leader, Chiroma was a symbol of integrity, courage and compassion. His selfless service to humanity and unwavering commitment to the ideals of justice and equality have left an indelible mark on our collective conscience,” Ajaero explained.
The late labour leader was 2-term member of the Governing body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and served on the committee of Freedom of Association.
He was a also a member of SEC 5, 1983 of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), and a recipient of the national honours of MON.
TUC’s President, Festus Osifo, recounted Chiroma’s struggle during the regime of the then Military Head of State, Muhammed Buhari “Who seized power on December 31, 1983, was intolerant of opposing views, passed irrational decrees such as Decree 4 of 1984 under which speaking the truth was generally lawless and a punishable offence.”
He said that Chiroma 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 supported other mass organizations such as the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA which had to organize a national strike against the regime.”
Osifo added that the Chiroma led NLC, fought the imposition of unpopular International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionalities on the country and led several protests against the fuel price hike and privatization programmes of the then President Ibrahim Babangida’s administration.
The Immediate Past President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, paid tribute to the late icon, acknowledging his invaluable contributions to the labor movement.
Wabba stated, “The loss of Comrade Ali Chiroma is deeply felt not only by his immediate family but also by the wider labour community in Nigeria and beyond.
His leadership during the resistance against the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) under General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration showcased his resilience in the face of adversity.
“Comrade Ali Chiroma led from the front and refused to shy away from speaking truth to power. He made a lot of sacrifices for the progress, unity, and solidarity of the labour movement from his mother union, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, where he rose to the pinnacle of his career. I am privileged to drink from the fountain of wisdom of a great iroko.”
Wabba emphasized that Chiroma’s accomplishments, institutional impact, and profound contributions to the task of nation-building form a legacy written in gold and etched in the sand dunes of time, forever.