The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has expressed deep sorrow at the passing of the former President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ali Chiroma.
Comrade Ali Chiroma, aged 91, departed on Tuesday night at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital following a brief illness, as confirmed by a statement from Zulum’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, on Wednesday.
In his condolence message, Governor Zulum extended heartfelt sympathies to the family and kin of the late Comrade Ali Chiroma, underscoring the inevitability of mortality and encouraging them to seek solace in the divine will.
Governor Zulum commended Ali Chiroma as a steadfast champion of workers’ rights, praising his unyielding dedication to enhancing the well-being of Nigerian laborers nationwide. He highlighted Chiroma’s courageous leadership and steadfast commitment to the cause of the proletariat.
Ali Chiroma’s legacy encompasses his tenure as the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress from 1984 to 1988. Before assuming the NLC presidency, he spearheaded the erstwhile Rural Health Workers of Nigeria, now known as the Medical and Health Workers Association, in 1960.
Offering prayers for the serene repose of Ali Chiroma’s soul, Governor Zulum also conveyed heartfelt condolences to the mourning family, beseeching divine strength and solace for them during this trying period.
In addition to lamenting the demise of the former labor leader, Governor Zulum extended condolences to the Borno Elders Forum, recognizing the substantial contributions of Ali Chiroma as one of their esteemed members.
The passing of Ali Chiroma heralds the conclusion of an epoch in Nigeria’s labor movement, leaving behind a legacy of service, advocacy, and steadfast commitment to laborers’ welfare. His contributions to the labor movement and his resolute dedication to social equity will be enshrined and celebrated for posterity.
As Borno State and the Nigerian labor community mourn the loss of a revered leader and elder statesman, there exists an occasion to contemplate Ali Chiroma’s legacy and reaffirm allegiance to the tenets of justice, equity, and social righteousness that he espoused throughout his lifetime.
