By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

NEWLY elected President of  the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, has spoken about his determination to work with  the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and all TUC members as one family to lift up  the living standards of Nigerian workers and other underprivileged groups in the country.

In his acceptance speech  after his election as  President of the TUC  at the 9th Triennial Delegates Congress of TUC, in Abuja, Kaigama  said there were no victors and no vanquished, noting that “this victory is for all of us because the task of consolidating the lofty achievements of the past executive and lifting the Congress to the next level rests squarely on our shoulders and as such all hands must be on deck.

I must admit that in the build-up to this election, there were minor distractions which were not entirely unexpected in a democratic organization such as ours.  I believe that we have been better tutored by the experience of the campaign and are now more prepared and resolved to always stand by the trade union maxim that an injury to one is an injury to all. We, therefore, harbour no malice towards anyone but goodwill towards all.   I accordingly extend my hands of comradeship to my fellow contestant.

I implore him to join hands with us in the TUC family so that we can pool our intellects together to advance the profile of the Congress to greater heights and uplift the living standards of Nigerian workers and other underprivileged groups in the country.”

“I must sincerely put on record the indelible and invaluable contributions of the immediate past President-General of the Congress, Comrade Peter Esele, and those of his colleagues in the national administrative council for not only making the TUC formidable but also nurturing it into an institution that is now highly respected at home and abroad.

I wish to assure you that the new Leadership of the TUC will strive to further enhance the status of the Congress and move its banner to the next level.

I want to say that very shortly the new leadership of the Congress will unveil the blueprint for the implementation of the broad programmes that formed the basis for this mandate you have given  to us today.

I wish to extend our hands of fellowship to the Nigeria Labour Congress, Civil Society Groups and the Media.  I want to pledge that we will continue to network with you and all men of goodwill to steer the country in the path of good governance.

He added  “It is also necessary to state that I regard the Government and Labour organizations as partners-in-progress.  This is because we are all pursuing the same noble goal of promoting the common good of the citizens.  The new leadership of the TUC will, therefore, work in harmony with the Government and private sector employers to make Nigeria a better place than we met it.  In this partnership, commendations will be given and criticisms made when and where necessary.”