President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, highlighting the significant evolution in his relationship with the labour movement from his days as a military ruler to his tenure as a democratically elected leader.
In a condolence statement personally signed and made available to journalists on Monday in Abuja, Ajaero reflected on Buhari’s complex legacy with Nigerian workers, acknowledging both the hardships of the past and the reforms of his civilian administration.
“For us in the unions, Buhari initially came fighting against organised labour, implementing mass retrenchments and subjecting workers to untold hardship during his time as military Head of State,” Ajaero stated.
However, the NLC President noted a dramatic shift in Buhari’s approach when he returned as a civilian President. “As a democratically elected leader, he ensured that no worker was laid off, even in the face of the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Ajaero praised Buhari for his efforts to support state governments financially, citing his administration’s repeated provision of bailout funds aimed at clearing salary and pension backlogs and enabling regular payment of workers’ entitlements. He noted, however, that “some governors betrayed this trust” by mismanaging the funds.
The labour leader also acknowledged Buhari’s controversial economic policies, such as increasing the pump price of petroleum products, but commended his refusal to sell off national refineries or succumb to international pressure to devalue the Naira.
“Buhari consistently aligned himself with workers’ values and resisted adopting extreme market-driven policies, showing a commitment to protecting the interests of workers and the ordinary Nigerian,” Ajaero said.
Reflecting on the former President’s legacy, Ajaero said, “In the late President, we have lost a leader who corrected his past mistakes against workers during his second tenure. He was a patriot who always placed the country above personal or political interest.”
He extended the condolences of the entire labour movement to Buhari’s family, especially his wife, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, as well as friends and associates, praying that Allah forgives his shortcomings and grants him eternal rest.
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Muhammadu Buhari passed away on Sunday in a London hospital. In response to his death, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a period of national mourning, with flags flown at half-mast. Vice President Kashim Shettima has been dispatched to the United Kingdom to facilitate the return of Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.
Buhari served as Nigeria’s civilian President from 2015 to 2023, after previously leading the country as a military Head of State between 1983 and 1985.
