Hashim urges Labour’s participation in saving Nigeria’s democracy
Former presidential candidate and energy entrepreneur, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has urged the Nigerian labour movement to take a more active and central role in safeguarding the country’s democracy. He decried
Former presidential candidate and energy entrepreneur, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has urged the Nigerian labour movement to take a more active and central role in safeguarding the country’s democracy.
He decried what he called a gradual slide towards authoritarianism.
Hashim spoke when he visited the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajero in Abuja where he engaged him on the state of the nation and the role of workers in sustaining democratic governance.
Hashim noted that the history of Nigeria’s progress cannot be separated from the sacrifices and contributions of the working class, stressing 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.
The former presidential candidate noted that the current democratic dispensation must equally benefit from such vigilance and commitment.
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.
The businessman said 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.
Hashim praised the current leadership of the NLC, particularly Ajaero, for what he called 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.
Hashim’s remarks underscore a renewed call for unity between labour leaders and political actors in strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that governance remains people-centred.
As Nigeria navigates complex socio-political challenges, he stressed that the resilience, vigilance, and advocacy of the working class would remain indispensable in preserving democratic values and preventing any drift toward authoritarianism.
Hashim, a long-time ally of the Labour movement, was editorial consultant of the NLC’s maiden news organ, Labour Mirror, published in 1993, and as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Labour Party in 1996.
