The Trade Union Congress, on Wednesday, elected a new President, Festus Osifo, at the end of an election where he won with 688 votes defeating his rival, Oyikan Olasanoye, with 18 votes.
The former President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria won at the election took place at the 12th Triennial National Delegates’ Conference.
The conference held amid litigation that had threatened the existence of the congress.
The National Industrial Court, Lagos Division had last week, stopped the TUC from holding its 12th Triennial Delegates Conference pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit before the court.
The trial judge, Justice R. H. Gwandu, gave the order in a suit filed by the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, and nine other associations against the TUC.
However, the newly-elected President maintained that all issues had been resolved as he pledged to protect the interest of Nigerian workers.
He also promised to “initiate a platform to resolve agitations of all aggrieved comrades.”
Speaking earlier, the immediate past President-General of the TUC, Quadri Olaleye, called on the Federal Government to review the salary and retirement age of all core civil servants in the country.
“The Federal Government during negotiation at the last new National Minimum Wage promised to review but has reneged. We are calling on the Federal Government to direct the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to step up action in that regard.
“Similarly, what is good for the geese is also good for the gander is an age-long dictum that is still as relevant as it was centuries ago. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), during the 2020 World Teachers Day, increased the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years and also reviewed upward their length of service from 35 to 40 years. We covet such gesture,” he said.
