The Nigeria Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees (NUAAE) says it has turned a new chapter after more than a decade of internal crisis, pledging to rebuild the union through peace, leadership training and improved service to members.
National President of NUAAE, Comrade Tajudeen Bashir Baba, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the union’s National Leadership Retreat in Abuja.
He said the retreat, attended by national and state executives, followed the successful reconciliation process facilitated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
According to him, the prolonged crisis weakened the union, reduced membership and left many leaders unfamiliar with the union’s constitution and labour regulations.
“This is the first retreat in the history of our union. We want to educate our members, strengthen internal democracy and show that the era of crisis is over,” he said.
Baba noted that the union lost significant membership during the years of internal disputes as workers joined other labour unions, adding that the retreat would help reposition the organisation for growth.
He also said the union was engaging government to ensure farmers have access to affordable fertilisers, improved seeds and other agricultural inputs to boost food production.
The NUAAE president stressed the need for greater involvement of the union in agricultural policy discussions, saying it had written to the Federal Government seeking representation in relevant agricultural councils.
He expressed concern over rising food prices, urging government to improve security in farming communities and support local food production rather than relying on imports.
Also speaking, NUAAE General Secretary, Comrade Zubairu Itopa Mohamed said the retreat was organised to educate leaders on compliance with the union’s constitution, accountability and effective membership mobilisation.
He said respect for the union’s rules was essential for sustainable growth, warning that failure to comply could lead to disorder and weaken the organisation.
The General Secretary also cautioned state councils against treating check-off dues as personal funds, stressing that union finances must be managed transparently and accounted for in line with labour regulations.
He appealed to members to embrace peace following the resolution of the leadership crisis, saying unity was necessary to attract new members and strengthen collective bargaining.
On agriculture, he urged the Federal Government to make fertilisers and other farm inputs available at subsidised rates and involve the union in their distribution to ensure genuine farmers benefit.
Meanwhile, the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Comrade Amos Falonipe, warned against unlawful deductions of check-off dues from workers’ salaries.
He said deductions must comply with labour laws and be carried out with workers’ consent, adding that state and zonal union leaders must ensure proper remittance of the funds.
Falonipe warned that unions violating the regulations risk sanctions, including suspension from the payroll deduction system.
Delivering a keynote address on “Trade Union Organising and Mobilising in a Digitalised Workplace,” Comrade Martins Egbanubi urged trade unions to embrace digital transformation to remain relevant.
He said modern workplaces have evolved beyond physical offices, making it necessary for unions to adopt digital communication platforms, virtual collaboration tools and modern engagement strategies.
According to him, a well-implemented digital workplace strategy would enhance efficiency, innovation, social justice and harmonious labour-management relations while strengthening workers’ participation in union activities.
