Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, have expressed shock over the death of Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili, former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control, NAFDAC, and a delegate to the ongoing National Conference.

NLC and TUC in separate statements said Professor Akunyili, who was also Minister of Information in the administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, was a trail-blazer and a good example of a true Nigerian who, despite her ill health, was ready to offer her fountain of knowledge at the ongoing National Conference. She believed in the Nigerian project and continued to champion this belief even till death.

NLC in a statement by its President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, said“ Mrs. Akunyili as Director General of NAFDAC demonstrated quality leadership and commitment to public service driven by public interest with such an uncommon courage and determination to promote good health and safe living by ensuring all substandard pharmaceutical items are shut out of Nigeria.

“Mrs. Akinyuli was a perfect example of the type of public servant Nigeria urgently needs to raise the standard of a society sliding in all morals, discipline and selfless service. Her commitment to service, fearless carriage, transparency, exceptional honesty, intellectual prowess and commitment to our collective quest for the growth of democratic governance gave her out as a heroine of contemporary Nigeria.”

On its part, TUC in a statement by its President and Secretary General, Bobboi Kaigama, and Musa Lawal, said “It is bad enough that she died but worse that she died at a time we are at the point of making a breakthrough into the Nigeria of her dreams. We have come a long enough way with her as to know the society she desired, and were therefore very glad when the National Conference was called with the amazon as a delegate. Indeed we feel terrible that her death has come at a time when she was making further effort to help sustain and strengthen the unity and stability of the nation. Without any doubt, she will be greatly missed.