Former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has described the late President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader who stood firmly with Nigeria’s poor and working class.
In a tribute issued on Sunday, Wabba said Buhari’s passing came as a shock to many, especially Nigerian workers who benefited directly from his pro-people policies.
“What was meant to be a routine health check in London sadly turned into the death of a Commander-in-Chief who will long be remembered for standing with the poor and vulnerable,” Wabba stated.
He recalled that shortly after Buhari assumed office in 2015, he approved a \$2.1 billion bailout package for states to clear unpaid salaries and pensions. “He once asked governors how they could sleep at night knowing their workers were not paid,” Wabba said.
In 2017, Buhari released another round of bailout funds to ease the financial burden on state governments, though Wabba lamented that some governors misused the funds.
On the national minimum wage, Wabba said Buhari was genuinely committed to improving workers’ welfare. “During negotiations, he proposed a figure higher than the N30,000 that was eventually approved. Sadly, resistance from governors limited what was achieved,” he said.
Wabba also praised Buhari’s decision to retain fuel subsidies, despite heavy pressure from global financial bodies. “He refused to allow fuel price increases that would hurt ordinary Nigerians. He resisted both the IMF and the World Bank to stand by the people,” he added.
Wabba concluded his message by praying for Buhari’s soul and offering condolences to his widow, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the children, and all members of the Buhari family.