By Victor Ahiuma-Young

It was a day of joy, happiness and celebration for members of the National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees, NUSDE, as delegates gathered recently in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State, to elect a new leadership to lead the union for the next four years.

The joy of members including the secretariat staff, knew no bounds as those who began a rescue mission to save the union from bankruptcy and total collapse in March this year, were chosen to continue their efforts at stabilising and returning NUSDE to the path of progress and prosperity during the union’s 6th Quadrennial and 13th National Delegates’ Conference, NDC, in Ibadan.

Before March this year, among others, the secretariat staff were owed not less than 15 months salaries, besides, the secretariat became an eyesore with power supply to the secretariat disconnected for years because of unpaid debt.

But today, the story has changed for the better as told by the President of the union, Aminu Megbontowon at the NDC witnessed by federal and state government, employers, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC representatives, among other guests. Addressing delegates and other guests, Megbontowon, who was then the Acting President, recalled the journey to rescue NUSDE from the “bottomless pit” in the past years especially from 2022.

He decried how some persons who had ceased to be union members held on to key positions to protect personal interests. 

According to him: “We had no choice but to challenge this aberration, absurdities and illegality. We also challenged other illegalities, for instance, we opposed and resisted the continued stay in office of the former General Secretary, Sule Babatunde who is over 80 years old and had put in over 42 years service in NUSDE. The past leadership owed secretariat staff backlog of salaries and also did not pay affiliation dues to the NLC. 

“All efforts to resolve the crisis in the best way possible were resisted by the former leadership. To consolidate their grip on the union, the former leadership held an illegal conference in Asaba in 2022 in violation of a court injunction. The interventions by the Chairperson, Shop & Distributive Employers Association of Nigeria (S & DTEAN), other stakeholders and NLC leadership could not persuade the former leadership to end its illegality. Even a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, brokered by NLC President, Joe Ajaero was brazenly violated. 

“Just like the saying, ‘there is light at the end of the tunnel’, we persevered in the struggle to rescue the union from those who were derailing the good mission of our great union and today, we came out victorious. This ongoing conference is a testament to the victory . Never again, would our union go through the dark days of illegality and tyranny.”

While giving insight into some of the achievements of the interim leadership since March, he said: “As part of our efforts toward building a vibrant union, since we assumed office on 20th March, 2024, we have been able to address the wrongs of the past and put the union on the right path to prosperity. 

“We cleared the backlog of over 15 months salaries owed to our Secretariat staff within a short time. We have also begun paying our affiliation dues to the NLC including arrears. We have started the process of unionising some companies and organising workers. We have paid accumulated rebates owed our units across the country. Importantly, we have concluded the National Industrial Joint Negotiating Council, NJNC, agreement this year and has improved the working conditions and monthly pay of our members. The NJNC agreement lifespan of three years was reduced to two years.”

Dawn of new era

In his acceptance speech after he was unanimously elected substantive President for the next four years, Megbontowon, among others, said:  “This election confirms the confidence and trust you have in me in the journey of revitalising the union in the last seven months. It is a call to service and I will not take it for granted.

“The next four years will be to reposition the union for effective service delivery. I wish to strongly appeal to you to join me in setting the stage for a new dawn. I thank the delegates for electing this team of capable and dynamic leaders who will lead this great union for the period of this mandate. 

“As we face the challenges of union building, members’ unity, solidarity, sacrifices and collective resolve should be the bedrock of our future leadership. I appeal to all members to work together honestly to foster an environment of open and constructive debate based on comradely relationships.

“Our word remain our bounds, we shall pursue the following:  We shall embark on rehabilitation of the National Secretariat. We shall promote our staff welfare and promote those that are due while encouraging self-improvement.  

“We shall engage in training of both officers and rank and file members of the union. We shall organise and unionise more companies. We shall hold organs meeting as and when due. We shall collaborate with other stakeholders in our industry in order to sustain and protect our industries against anti-poor policies that may affect our source of survival.”