Former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Ayuba Wabba, has described the late President Muhammadu Buhari as a genuine pro-poor leader whose death represents a monumental loss for Nigerian workers and the underprivileged.
In a tribute issued on Sunday, Wabba said Buhari’s passing came as a shock to many, especially among the labour community who benefitted from his empathy and economic policies focused on alleviating hardship.
“What was expected to be a routine medical check-up in London tragically ended in the loss of a Commander-in-Chief who will be fondly remembered for his unwavering support for the poor and vulnerable,” Wabba said.
He recalled that shortly after taking office in 2015, Buhari approved a $2.1 billion bailout fund for cash-strapped states, enabling them to clear unpaid salaries and pension arrears.
“President Buhari was genuinely concerned about the suffering of workers. He once questioned how governors could sleep at night knowing their employees had not been paid,” Wabba noted.
In 2017, Buhari released another tranche of bailout funds to further assist states in clearing salary and pension backlogs, although Wabba regretted that some governors misused the funds.
He also praised Buhari’s commitment during the minimum wage negotiations. “President Buhari was determined to improve workers’ welfare. He actually proposed a figure higher than the N30,000 that was eventually adopted. Sadly, resistance from many state governors prevented a more generous wage,” Wabba said.
According to him, one of Buhari’s most consequential pro-poor policies was his refusal to remove petrol subsidy, despite sustained pressure from global financial institutions.
“President Buhari stood firm against the IMF and World Bank. He refused to allow fuel prices to rise beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians. He chose to align with the people rather than impose hardship,” Wabba stated.
He added that history would remember Buhari not for lofty speeches but for the tangible impact of his actions on workers, pensioners, and the masses.
“President Buhari made a difference where it truly mattered,” he said.
Wabba concluded his message by offering prayers for the late President’s soul: “May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. On behalf of my family, I extend heartfelt condolences to former First Lady Aisha Buhari, the children, and the entire Buhari family.”
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