President Bola Tinubu has sent condolences to the Chiroma family of Yerwa in Maiduguri, Borno State, over the passing of their son and elder statesman, Ali Chiroma.
Also, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno and his Yobe counterpart, Mai Mala Buni, expressed grief over the sad news.
The deceased was President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) between 1984 and 1988, having held various positions within the trade union hierarchy.
In a statement issued by his Spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, yesterday, Tinubu sympathised with the bereaved family, the organised labour community and everyone impacted by the painful loss.
He affirmed that Chiroma stood up for the independence of NLC and doggedly defended the downtrodden.
The President prayed God to grant repose to the soul of the departed, and fortitude to the family to bear the loss.
ZULUM’S message was contained in a statement by his media aide, Abdurrahman Bundi, yesterday, in Maiduguri.
“I sympathise with the family and relatives of the late Chiroma. No doubt, death of a loved one is painful; but as Muslims, we all believe every soul shall taste death,” he said, and prayed, alongside the Borno Elders Forum (BEF), for the repose of the soul of the former unionist.
Buni and Zulum, therefore, urged the people of former Borno State to take solace in God.
“Ali Chiroma was a true champion of the working class, a fearless leader, who dedicated his life to the welfare of Nigerian workers across the nation,” the Borno governor stated, adding that the deceased would be remembered for his “doggedness and dedication” to the cause of Nigerian workers.
The late Chiroma also served as the President of the defunct Rural Health Workers of Nigeria (RHWN), now known as the Medical and Health Workers Association (MHWA), in 1960.
Chiroma died at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, on Tuesday, at 91 years of age.
Having served as NLC president, the late Sani Abacha administration appointed him the Sole Administrator of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
