…..Comrade Fatuase takes over from Odofin
The Trade Union Congress, TUC, has inaugurated new members of the Ondo State Administrative Council (SAC), to pilot the affairs of the Congress in the next four years.
The new officers including the new Chairman, Comrade Clement Fatuase, emerged at the Triennial Delegates Conference of the Union held in Akure.
Speaking at the conference, the outgone State Chairman of TUC, Comrade Helen Odofin said “As a Labour center, my leadership has tried to reason alongside both parties without sacrificing the integrity and the legitimate and lawful demands of Labour.
“Though Government and Labour might not have been fully satisfied with all negotiations dealt with as both parties might have wished, nevertheless, i give God all the glory for taking us this far, and for helping us to approach all our seeming irreconcilable differences with tenacity of purpose and sense of understanding.
“I want to say that it gives me joy that no worker was maltreated under my watch and we did not loose any to sack.Unfortunately, workers are facing unpaid salaries but we have maintained good relationship with government and the NLC in _ order to ensure that workers rights are not unduly held back,” Odofin said.
In an acceptance speech, the new Ondo State Chairman of TUC, Comrade Clement Fatuase, pledged to give top priority to welfare of workers under his watch.
Fatuase said, “No salary; Unprecedented forms and formulas of insecurity; Government insensitivity to the future of University students; PTA’s unconcerned attitude to the future of their children and Evil taxation of BEDC without service.
“I hereby solicit the unalloyed support of every association member for the great task before us.
“I hope by the grace of God, by the support of every member, we will surpass the target set before us to the admiration of all and sundry. We will work and cooperate with our employers without compromising the welfare of our members.
“Comrades, we will engage our employers (both in the public and private sector) through the language they understand. Even the service providers for their ungodly extortions,” Fatuase said.
Performing the inauguration, the President of TUC, Comrade Quadri Olaleye represented by an official of the Congress from Abuja, berated the Federal Government for its failure to address the security challenges across the country.
Olaleye, who was represented by Dan Ehiagwmei, said “Nigeria is at war”, calling on the government at all levels, especially the FG, to rise up to the occasion to stop the killing of innocent Nigerians.
The TUC President commiserated with the government and good people of Ondo State on the unprovoked Owo terror attack, calling for adoption of new security strategies in the country.
“We are living in a country where roads, water, air and rail transport systems are no longer safe for the masses to travel. Any government, who fails in its responsibility to secure lives and property of its citizens should resign and allow a competent hand to direct the affairs of the nation.
He called for the establishment of state and local government security agencies, equipped, trained and well-armed to defend lives and property, adding that The National Assembly should immediately invoke the “doctrine of necessity” to alter the 1999 Constitution to facilitate this.
Olaleye charged the new union leaders in Ondo state to always draw attention of the National Secretariat where internal social dialogue with the appropriate authorities fail to yield desirable results.
Also speaking, the State Acting Head of Service, Mr. Kayode Ogundele has called on the union to collaborate and cooperate with the state government in ensuring the rights and benefits of workers in the state are adequately addressed.
Mr. Ogundele, who was speaking at the at the inauguration ceremony of the new executive members of the union in Akure today, said the current situation in the country required government and the union to collaborate, cooperate rather than engage in confrontation.
While saying unionism in Ondo state has risen up to challenge of maturity and decorum, Ogundele saluted the outgoing leadership for maintaining positive labour-government relationship,
The Ag. HoS enjoined the new executives to follow the footsteps of their predecessors and think of collaboration with government in delivering in its responsibilities.
“We can think of assisting government. So, it can be a win-win situation. We must still ensure we maintain the win-win situation”, he charged.
He said the governor had always been concerned with ensuring the outstanding workers’ salaries are paid off.
“He met backlogs of salaries and he cleared it and was also paying salaries consistently. He is a man of his words and he will do it. He has shown he loves the workers in most of the steps he has been taking.
In his charge, the Ondo State Commissioner for Mining, Energy and Power, Engr. Rasak Obe said the union had been the voice of the people and for society to be just, the union must be involved.
He admonished the union leaders to work with vigour, determination, persuasion that no temptation can obliterate, saying “Those who stand by the people are the winners”.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Princess Bunmi Osadahun congratulated the outgone and new leadership of the TUC, charging the new excos to be responsive and responsible, irrespective of many negative indices in the country.
She also admonished them to ensure they did not allow any communication gap as they pilot the affairs of TUC in the state.
In his charge, the State Controller of Federal Labour Office, Mr. Afolayan Olusola Michael charged the TUC leader to defend the interest of the TUC and always follow due process, irrespective of pressure from union members.
NEW TUC OFFICERS & UNIONS WHO PRESENTED THEM, include; 1. Comrade Clement Fatuase SSASCGOC Chairman;
2 (a) Comrade Nneke lkechukwu – SSAE & AC Vice Chairman
(b) Comrade Tajudeen Balogun ASUSS Vice Chairman
(c) Comrade Olufemi Aiyesoro NUAHP Vice Chairman
3. Comrade Gideon Olusola Bakare -ASCSN Secretary
4. Comrade Omidele Nathaniel Oluwatope, SSAUTHRIAHI —Assitant Sec.
5. Comrade Babakobi Yusuf Olanrewaju ASSIBIFI —Treasurer
6. Comrade Adewale Bolatinwa RTEAN – Financial Secretary
7. Comrade Vincent Oluwaniyi Olagoke FOBTOB Auditor
8. Comrade Nwibani Dum Ale Jnr PENGASSAN Public Relations Officer
9. Comrade from ASCSN will be the Chairperson of TUC Women Wing.
10. Comrade Chris Oluwatoyin Oyinola Margaret -ATSSSAN Secretary Woman Wing.
11. Comrade Helen Omowumi Odofin ASCSN Ex-Officio
