HE emerged from the shadows of a big tragedy that shook his union to its very foundation. Up to this moment, many members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) are still in shock on the sudden death of their very popular National President, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, who on the evening of Wednesday, October 7, 2020 in Abuja, slumped and died after a game or two of Badminton.
Many perhaps thought that the unexpected passing of Comrade Khaleel, who was affectionately called ‘Mr Autonomy’ by the rank and file of NULGE for his zeal and dedication to the struggle for the autonomy of the local government system in Nigeria, would paralyse the union in many ways given the big vacuum he had left in terms of his leadership vision and trade union persona, matched by an amiable personality and charisma.
But with bleary eyes, the union rose from his burial and took a bold decision four days later at an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Green Desert Palm Hotel, Kano on 11th October, 2020, where in a unanimous decision, the NEC elected Comrade Ahmed Labbo as new National President.
Comrade Labbo, the NEC further decided, is to serve out the outstanding period in the tenure of the late Comrade Khaleel, which National Record learnt will be ending in the first or second quarter of 2021.
National Record also gathered that although Comrade (Barrister) Friday Jomani, the union’s Deputy National President who is from Edo State, would have been Khaleel’s successor but for some health-related challenges. The union therefore resolved to elect Comrade Labbo on the compelling argument that in addition to his leadership qualities, he also hailed from the same geopolitical zone as Comrade Khaleel, apart from being the National Vice President of the union since 2015.
While Comrade Labbo may have been a familiar face in the leadership structure of NULGE for some time, however, not many people within the Nigerian trade union movement or even a huge chunk of the union’s membership are conversant with either his name or his face.
Described by some of his colleagues in the leadership, as well as some rank and file members of the union as humble and quiet but perceptive and clearheaded on issues dear to NULGE, particularly on the struggle for the autonomy of the local government system and core issues concerning the welfare of workers; Comrade Labbo, had served as National Welfare Officer under the Comrade Kingsley Ogba national leadership of NULGE between 2005-2015; in addition to being the National Vice President North West Zone since 2015.
A Prince of Kwatarkwashi and Chiroman Kwatarkwashi in Gusau Local Government Council of Zamfara State, Comrade Labbo’s trade union leadership experience goes down to the very roots of the union. He had been Branch Chairman and Branch Secretary of the Union at various times.
Described by some of his colleagues in the leadership, as well as some rank and file members of the union as humble and quiet but perceptive and clearheaded on issues dear to NULGE, particularly on the struggle for the autonomy of the local government system and core issues concerning the welfare of workers; Comrade Labbo, had served as National Welfare Officer under the Comrade Kingsley Ogba national leadership of NULGE between 2005-2015; in addition to being the National Vice President North West Zone since 2015.
Comrade Labbo had also served as State Trustee and State Caretaker Committee Chairperson of NULGE in Zamfara State before his foray into the arena of the union’s national politics.
The new National President of NULGE, a staff of Zamfara Local Government Service Commission where he serves as Chief Administrative Officer, is an alumnus of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Badagry, Lagos State.
A Brief Insight into his leadership
Although he has been in the hierarchy of the union’s leadership overtime, there are little or no indicators of his stewardship beyond secondary attestations all of which speak highly of him as calm and focused.
However, the only possible primary testimony to his leadership skill for now that could provide some valid insight into the personality profile described above remains his inaugural address delivered upon his election on October 11 in Kano.
Essentially, Comrade Labbo, in his address, reaffirmed his commitment to the struggle for local government autonomy as he stressed that he was one of the most dedicated foot soldiers in the autonomy struggle over the years, most especially under the leadership of the late Comrade Khaleel.
While stressing that for him it was a period for sober reflection, he also noted that his guiding principle would be dictated by how well he or any member of the leadership would “love to be remembered after we have exited the union.”
After paying tributes to the leadership qualities of the late Comrade Khaleel, Comrade Labbo used a few paragraphs to chart the path he will thread in the next few months. He assured the members of the union, whom he described as NULGERIANS, that his “eyes and mind are already focused on the future considering where we are now and fixed on where we must go, having in mind where we are coming from.”
Though brief, this statement is very profound in the context of the vast membership of the union spread across the length and breadth of the country and in view of the socio-economic and political realities faced by local government employees.
He asserted that his dream is for qualitative change for both members of the union as well as the local government system as he believes that “NULGE is more than a space that we occupy.”
For him, “NULGE is a way of life that speaks of liberality of spirit and a commitment to excellence in all facets of human endeavours.”
He therefore called upon his colleagues and members to “join hands with me to move the Union forward” on a banner of unity and peace under which they will only be positioned to attain their aims and ideals as set out by the union’s founding fathers.
Comrade Labbo, a holder of HND and Post Graduate Diploma (HND/PGD) in Public Administration was born on December 30, 1967.
