The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; and the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, have mourned the death of a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Pascal Bafyau.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Jonathan received the shocking news of the death of Bafyau, 65.
The President described the late labour leader as “an unassuming man,” who was passionate about labour issues and the interest of workers.
“Bafyau displayed level-headedness, pragmatism and a good sense of reason while negotiating with government officials over the welfare of Nigerian workers,” the President said.
Jonathan also praised Bafyau’s stint in politics at both the national and state levels and his contributions to the sustenance of enduring democracy, adding that the Adamawa Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party in particular and the party at the national level will miss Bafyau’s moderating influence and grassroots mobilisation capacity.
The President commiserated with the Bafyau family, the labour community and the PDP, urging them to take comfort in the fact that the late Comrade was a leading figure in the country’s labour movement where he carved a niche for himself.
Jonathan prayed that God should give the bereaved the fortitude to bear the loss of Bafyau.
Oshiomhole described the death of Bafyau as “a singular colossal loss to the Labour Movement.”
In a condolence letter to the NLC President, Comrade Abduwaheed Omar, Oshiomhole, who succeeded Bafyau at the Congress, said: “Comrade Pascal ahead of his contemporaries, appreciated the limitation of ‘bread and butter’ struggle of trade unionism.
“He was convinced that organised working men and women must be politically relevant through party formation and contest for political power if they will truly overcome exploitation and ensure equitable distribution of state resources.”
Recalling Bafyau’s glowing era at the NLC, the governor said: “His tenure witnessed labour struggle against military dictatorship and official attempt to divide the labour movement. His indelible marks I took over from as the 4th President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in 1999 in the movement are significant and numerous to list.”
Noting his epic role in the formation of the mass based Labour Party in 1989, the governor, who was Bafyau’s deputy for eight years, also highlighted his other contribution as the improved minimum wage, building of the 12-Storey Labour House in Abuja, establishment of the Labour Transport Service (now Labour City Transport) and the founding of the now defunct Labour Bank (LACON).
“He will be remembered among other numerous achievements as an advanced politically conscious Comrade who led formation and registration of the Labour Party as early as 1990s,” Oshiomhole said.
Expressing the heartfelt condolences of the government and people of Edo State to the Labour Movement and the Bafyau family for this irreparable loss, the governor prayed to the Almighty God for the repose of the soul of the departed comrade.
Ahmed also expressed shock at the death of Bafyau.
The governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, described Bafyau as a labour activist and democrat, who contributed immensely towards a strong and united labour movement in the country by not only ensuring a strong financial base but bringing factions of the union under an umbrella.
Ahmed noted that the labour movement and indeed the political landscape in Nigeria have been denied the invaluable experiences of Bafyau, especially now that the country strives for synergy between labour activism and democratic ideals.
The governor urged labour movements in the country to sustain the ideals of dialogue, which Bafyau stood for, in resolving labour disputes.
He prayed God to give the family, the labour movement and Nigerians at large the fortitude to bear the loss.