By Awwal Umar Kontagora One of the contenders for the position of National President of the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers (NUMW...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
One of the contenders for the position of National President of the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers (NUMW), Comrade Musa Adamu Nasko, has commended the National Electoral Committee for what he described as a transparent and comprehensive screening process for candidates contesting various positions in the union’s forthcoming general election.
The election, which is scheduled to hold on September 24, will determine the new leadership of the union at the national level.
Nasko made the commendation yesterday after completing his screening exercise at the union’s National Secretariat.
He described the screening process as a significant development, saying it was, to his knowledge, the first time such a comprehensive exercise had been conducted since the establishment of the union.
According to him, the process provided an opportunity for every candidate to appear before the committee and explain his plans, programmes and vision for the union if elected.
He said the exercise would enable the union to identify candidates with clear strategies for moving the organisation forward and positioning it to compete effectively with other trade unions in the country.
Speaking with our correspondent after the screening, Nasko expressed confidence in the ability of the electoral committee to conduct a free and fair election.
He explained that he initially had no intention of contesting the election but decided to do so after members of the union in Niger State, where he currently serves, appealed to him to contest.
Nasko said that after members paid for his nomination form, following consultations with the union’s Secretary, Comrade Muhammad Ndadzuru Salawu, they informed him that they had completed the necessary arrangements and advised him to begin consultations with stakeholders in the mining sector in Niger State and across the country.
He said he had no reason to reject the request, considering the confidence members had placed in him.
Nasko further said the union needed a leadership system that would accommodate all members and eliminate fears among workers who might be concerned about their future after leaving office.
He said if elected, his administration would introduce a system that would ensure that every member had a role to play in the development of the union, regardless of whether they held an elective position.
On the screening exercise, Nasko said the committee asked him several questions, some of which he could not disclose to the media.
However, he said the nature of the questions convinced him that the committee was committed to identifying leaders capable of promoting unity, development and the growth of the union.
Nasko appealed to delegates and other eligible voters to support his candidacy and vote for him during the election.
He also pledged to work with all contestants and members of the union, regardless of the outcome of the election.
“Anyone who does not win the election, I am ready to work with everyone to ensure that every member contributes to the development of the union without discrimination,” he said.
Nasko said his long experience in the mining sector had given him a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the industry.
He said he had spent more than 35 years in the mining sector and had developed plans aimed at improving the welfare of mining workers and strengthening the industry.
Among his priorities, he listed the creation of sustainable sources of income for the union, initiatives to create employment opportunities for young people, collaboration with government agencies and security forces to address security challenges in mining communities, and strict adherence to relevant mining laws.
He also pledged to promote cooperation between mining workers, investors and government authorities in order to attract investment, expand legitimate mining activities and ensure that mining businesses operate within the framework of Nigerian laws.
The Nigeria Union of Mines Workers is a trade union representing workers in the mining sector and operates within the Nigerian labour union system.
The union is currently led at the national level by Comrade Hamza Mohammed, whose tenure is expected to come to an end following the forthcoming election, in accordance with the union’s four-year leadership tenure.
Under the current leadership, the union has pursued initiatives aimed at promoting unity and development among mining workers, with support from other leaders and stakeholders in the sector.
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