Former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has called on the Nigerian labour movement to take a more active and central role in safeguarding the country's democracy from what he described as a gradual slide toward authoritarianism.
Olawepo-Hashim made the call during a visit to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, where he engaged him on the state of the nation and the role of workers in sustaining democratic governance.
According to a state ent by his media team, the former presidential candidate, said the history of Nigeria's progress cannot be separated from the sacrifices and contributions of the working class. He stressed that labour has always been at the forefront of major political and social transformations in the country.
"Labour played a key role in the struggle for independence, and the working class was also a major force in our effort to end military dictatorship," he said, noting that the current democratic dispensation must equally benefit from such vigilance and commitment.
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Olawepo-Hashim warned that democracy risks losing its value if the welfare of citizens, particularly workers, is neglected. He urged political leaders to refocus governance on policies that improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
He emphasised that democracy must deliver tangible benefits to the people, adding that when workers are marginalised, the legitimacy of democratic institutions is weakened.
Reflecting on his long-standing relationship with the labour movement, Hashim recalled his days as a student union leader in the 1980s, when he actively supported workers' struggles and social justice campaigns.
Olawepo-Hashim commended the current leadership of the NLC, particularly Ajaero, for what he described as steadfast and courageous leadership in defending workers' rights despite mounting pressures and intimidation.
He noted that such commitment has earned global recognition, citing the Arthur Svensson Prize for Trade Union Rights, which is to be formally conferred on Ajaero in Oslo, Norway, as a testament to the resilience of Nigeria's labour movement.
He added that the resilience, vigilance, and advocacy of the working class will remain indispensable in preserving democratic values and preventing any drift toward authoritarianism as Nigeria navigates complex socio-political challenges.
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Olawepo-Hashim, a longtime ally of the labour movement, was an editorial consultant for the NLC's maiden news organ, Labour Mirror, published in 1993, and also served as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Labour Party in 1996.
