By Eberechi Obinagwam
The National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees has insisted that there is no division, hence, the leadership of the union remains intact.
This is coming after viral publications of some aggrieved members alleging that the union is fractionised.
National president of the union, Comrade Lateef Oyelekan on Tuesday, in a press briefing said that the National Administrative Committee (NAC) elected on the 9th December, 2016 for a four years tenure are still solidly united save for the national Signing Trustee, Comrade Onoja J. Peter who is currently on suspension due to his gross anti-union conducts, and the general secretary, Comrade Bamidele Busari on suspension owing to his gross infraction against the constitution of the union.
He explained that in other words, out of 11 elected members of the National Administrative Committee, (NAC), ten are very united in performing their duties. That in same vein, out of six appointed members, five are performing their respective duties with absolute commitment, while in summary, fifteen members of NAC are also carrying their mandates constitutional.
He disclosed that whoever is talking of fractionalisation in the union is a mere figment of their unrealistic imagination.
“The union is well structured in such a way that no president, secretary general can take decisions without the union. The aggrieved members took our letter head to write to minister of labour without our consent,” he said.
Also, concerning alleged tenure elongation, the union said that the two years election deferment, popularly referred to as ‘Tenure Elongation’ is specifically targeted at achieving the building of another monumental hotel project in Ibadan to be constructed, completed and commissioned latest by December 2022.
In a statement that was read by the general secretary, Comrade Mike Olanrewaju, “contrary to the impression been portrayed in various media, the truth remains that the president was never involved in the initiative of the progressive idea of two years tenure extension, rather, it was a collective decision of the union members across the country to the mutual benefit of all members.
“The deferments of elections across board of all organs of the union by two years, in other words, two years extension of the current tenure of elected officers of our union was a meticulous and progressive decision overwhelming adoption by the National Executive Council (NEC) at its annual meeting held in Abuja in February, 4th, 2019.
“The decision was arrived as a fallout of the transparent financial report presented by the leadership of our union to the NEC in session.
“The motive of the deferment of elections by two years was predicated on the necessity to avoid the unhealthy incidence of animosity, bickering and unnecessary distractions usually associated with the process and conduct of elections.
“The motion was also moved by the same set of members now clamouring for the discontinuation of the tenure extension implementation,” he said.
The president, Comrade Lateef, also maintained that there is no morgage diplomacy to morgage anything.
“We got a board that will be taking care of the investment. There was need for a review in the constitution because it has not been reviewed for a long time.
“In 2008 when we came in, the union had one hundred and fifty million naira, but today, we have N1.2 billion hence the need for a review to enable us manage our investment.
“The federal government alone cannot resolve the task of unemployment. We have one hundred and seventy workers (170) in our pay roll and the hotel in Ibadan after completion will employ sixty (60), workers, hence helping federal government to fight unemployment, ” he said.
Also, concerning alleged disobedience of court order, the union stated clear that they were not served with Order of court or injunction as at the day of emergency delegates conference was held.
According to Mike, he said Bamidele Busari and Onoja Peter eventually conspired with some misinformed members of the union to sue the leadership of the union at the National Industrial Court (NIC) with calculated attempt to derail the progressive and patriotic efforts of the union to transform the union through the review of outdated constitution of the union and a bid to reinforce the investments of the union.
“It must also be noted that our union was duly served with the notice of their court action on 3rd July, 2020, but we did not receive any injunction,” he stated.
