By- Ekaette Okon- Earlier today, Comrade Unyime Usoro was appointed Honorary Special Adviser on Labour Matters by Gov Udom Emmanuel to the delight of many especially those in the labour movement in the state who have watched and monitored Usoro’s dedication and commitment to the cause and struggle of labour movement in the state for the past two decades.
It is believed that Comrade Unyime Usoro has been of tremendous value to the labour movement in the state especially during his eventful tenure as the secretary and later chairperson of NLC.
According to public opinion especially from those in the labour movement, Comrade Usoro has been a firm believer in the dignity and integrity of labour, sanctity of good governance, rule of law and politics without bitterness. It is in line with this thought that a large number of people feel that “the Iroko of labour movement” must have accepted this appointment simply because it is a call to duty. It is an assignment which, running away from will amount to a disservice to one’s virtues, believes and values especially now that there are a lot of workers’ demands on the table of the state government. This is believed to be his reason for RISING to this challenge.
Suffice to say that Comrade Usoro is the man who reorganised and re-invented labour congress in Akwa Ibom State. Under his leadership, NLC became independent, and socially responsible to the voice of workers and responsible for the survival of the mass and downtrodden.
As NLC chairman in the state, he led protests and strikes against arbitrary increases in the prices of petroleum products and the implementation of the National Minimum Wage. His leadership of the state NLC also secured significant salary increase for workers in the state including the once famous “Akpabio Ember”. Under his stewardship, NLC became public protector number one.
As the bridge and a negotiator between the government and Akwa Ibom workers, Comrade Usoro acquired a reputation for achieving results, which translated to enhance fortunes for workers. His brilliance as a negotiator or grievance handler is founded on his first-class capacity for articulation. He also has capacity for deep and original thinking which filters from a mind that he has trained to be methodical and organised. He further has the brainwave and patience to absorb and process complex and diverse details which sharpen his problem-solving skills.
This is why his appointment as an Adviser to the Governor on labour matters should be well appreciated by Akwa Ibom workers.
In Unyime Usoro, we have as Honorary Special Adviser, a man of impeccable pedigree and integrity who cannot be called to question on matters of moral uprightness and probity.
Quietly and treading softly, the Honorary Special Adviser has made indelible marks on a great number of people by empowering them through different forms of support with strides that are phenomenal. To most admirers of Usoro, he has followed the purposeful path of helping people realise their individual and collective aspirations.
As the news of his appointment broke out this morning, I decided to share my thoughts with some civil servants at the state secretariat. Expectedly, they all extolled his virtues in unison. By their own account, here is a man “who never abandon the workers to their helplessness”.
To any unbiased observer, Usoro’s trajectory is a tribute to courage, service, humility, loyalty, integrity, generosity, resilience, diligence and spirituality. Generally, people have spoken approvingly of the Honorary Special Adviser on labour matters.
A man of peace and courage, he believes that we are bound by our common humanity and therefore abhors discrimination, oppression and exploitation of any kind. He possesses compassion in large quantum, a necessary quality of leadership. Little wonder, at all times he voices encouragement.
Usoro has demonstrated physical prowess, social renown, political mastery, friendly finesse, character comeliness, marital exemplariness, and dispositional humility.
As he takes on this new assignment today, I join all men and women of goodwill to congratulate and wish him eventful and fruitful service to our state.
Ekaette Okon writes in from Uyo.
#AkwaIbom
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