NLC elections: NUT decries attacks on president
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has decried the attacks on its National President, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Omar, over his ambition to vie for the NLC presidency.
The NLC Credentials Committee recently cleared Omar and Chief Fidelis Edeh of the Nigeria Civil Service Union to contest for the presidency in the February 15 general elections in Abuja.
A statement by NUT general secretary Obong Obong at the weekend in Abuja said some aspirants had embarked on mudslinging and personal attack on Omar in their desperation for leadership ''We are pained also by the smear campaign by our colleagues against President Omar whom our union has resolved to present for the consideration of Nigerian workers as the next NLC president,'' Obong said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Obong as stating that the action amounted to undermining the accomplishments of the labour movement under the leadership of
NLC President Adams Oshiomhole.
''Indeed for the NUT, election is a secondary issue to the more important task of grappling with better strategies to improve the conditions of Nigerian workers and pensioners across sectors,'' he said.
Obong expressed confidence that Omar, whose unionism experience spans 23 years, had the necessary leadership credentials to provide quality stewardship for the NLC from Feb. 15.
''In leading the Nigerian teachers' movement, Omar brought on board his experience of more than 23 years at various levels of the union,'' he stated.
The general secretary also said that Omar had been instrumental to the growth in infrastructure and the capacity to address the challenges of decent work.
He further stated that the NUT, under the leadership of Omar, had enjoyed relevance in the NLC as the largest affiliate.
Obong expressed the belief that the NLC would be in safe hands under Omar's leadership, while the legacies and gains made under Oshiomhole would be sustained.