The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has expressed sadness over the death of a former minister in the ministry, Mr Bunu Musa.
Ngige said this in a statement signed by Mr Charles Akpan, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, in the ministry on Monday in Abuja.
The late Bunu served as the minister of employment, labour and productivity from 1990 to 1992.
Ngige who extolled the contributions of the former minister to the growth of the tripartite community, said Nigeria’s, social partners would greatly miss him.
According to him, we recall his contributions to the growth of labour, especially the development of social dialogue and uplifting workers at a period of military dictatorship, when genuine agitations by workers were easily construed as sabotage.
“Bunu, though served a military regime, demonstrated commendable capacity for social dialogue, engaging labour leaders at various fora, and promoting collective bargaining. He subsequently secured slight wage increases in 1990, which no doubt brought succor and relief to the workforce.
“It is this and other achievements that credit him a deserving place in the annals of labour in Nigeria. They also earn him a strong note that will resonate each time, an account is taken of the growth and development of tripartism in Nigeria.
“ I also knew Bunu closely when I served as the physician in charge of the Federal Government Special Guest House Clinic, Victoria Island Lagos, from 1986 to 1989.
”He served variously as Honourable Ministers of Industries and later, Power and Steel before finally berthing at the labour, employment and productivity ministry.
“ He was affable, warm and a Pan-Nigerian . Did I know that fate would one day entrust to my care, on behalf of the people of Nigeria, the same office that Bunu once superintended over,” he said.
Ngige, therefore, on behalf of the management and staff of the ministry, expressed sincere condolences to the government and people of Borno , and the late Bunu’s family.(NAN)