As Comrade Femi Falana celebrates his 62nd birthday anniversary, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has joined millions of Nigerians and his admirers across the world to congratulate and celebrate his commitment to the cause of justice, especially in defence of workers and people’s rights.
The NLC, in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said “Falana has always broken through the dread of silence to speak out against oppressive policies and actions of those in the corridors of political power.”
Comrade Wabba said because Falana’s interventions as a human rights crusader and activist transcend ethnic, religious and political sentiments, he has been able to keep successive governments in Nigeria on their toes.
Wabba said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wishes to celebrate a great Nigerian patriot, lawyer and defender of workers’ and people’s rights; Comrade Femi Falana, as he turns sixty-two!
“Femi Falana since his student days has been in the fore front of the crusade for the emancipation of the Nigerian people. As a student, even before he became a lawyer, Femi Falana was in the habit of bailing fellow student union activists who got arrested by the State.”
The NLC President, describing him as a lawyer’s delight and a thorough-bred professional, stated that as a Senior Advocate of the Mass (SAM) and later as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Falana’s “commitment to pristine principles establishes his legacy as one of Nigeria’s finest human rights crusaders and defenders.”
Wabba said Falana, in line with his avowed commitment to the liberation of the Nigerian State from retrogressive forces; Falana chose to be a long-standing ally of the NLC and in practical demonstration of this, has remained with the NLC in so many of its campaigns for social justice, equity and national renewal.
“To describe him as an abiding friend of Nigerian workers would only betray our struggle with the right adjectives.
“At sixty-two years, the Nigeria Labour Congress wishes our erudite and eminent partner in the struggle for workers’ and peoples’ rights; Comrade Femi Falana, more rewarding years ahead!” concluded Wabba.
The full statement below:
CELEBRATING FEMI FALANA AT 62
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wishes to celebrate a great Nigerian patriot, lawyer and defender of workers’ and people’s rights; Comrade Femi Falana, as he turns sixty-two!
Femi Falana since his student days has been in the fore front of the crusade for the emancipation of the Nigerian people. As a student, even before he became a lawyer, Femi Falana was in the habit of bailing fellow student union activists who got arrested by the State.
Femi Falana has always broken through the dread of silence to speak out against oppressive policies and actions of those in the corridors of political power. His interventions as a human rights crusader and activist transcend ethnic, religious and political sentiments and have kept successive governments in Nigeria on their toes.
First, as a Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) and later as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with an illustrious career pedigree, Comrade Femi Falana is a lawyer’s delight and a thorough bred professional. His commitment to pristine principles establishes his legacy as one of Nigeria’s finest human rights crusader and defender.
In tandem with his avowed commitment to the liberation of the Nigerian State from retrogressive forces, Comrade Femi Falana is a long-standing ally of the Nigeria Labour Congress. He has been with us in so many of our campaigns for social justice, equity and national renewal. To describe him as an abiding friend of Nigerian workers would only betray our struggle with the right adjectives.
At sixty-two years, the Nigeria Labour Congress wishes our erudite and eminent partner in the struggle for workers’ and peoples’ rights; Comrade Femi Falana, more rewarding years ahead!
Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni
President, Nigeria Labour Congress
