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The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has felicitated with formemost Labour leader, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu on his 80th birthday celebration.
In a letter he personally signed and addressed to the celebrator, the two-term Governor of Osun State described Comrade Sunmonu as a man who has lived and still living a life of purpose and service to humanity.
According to the Minister, ten years ago when the veteran Labour leader celebrated his 70th birthday, “we thought you will slow down then, but, you renewed purpose and took on more challenges. You continue to excel”.
Going back memory lane, Ogbeni Aregbesola recalled how Comrade Sunmonu burst on to the scene in 1978 as the first President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and going to successfully agitated for the N150 minimum wage for workers during the Shehu Shagari administration.
The Minister stated further that Comrade Sunmonu moved up in his Labour struggle by being voted the Secretary General of Organisation of Africa Trade Union Unity (OATUU) and was reelected six terms serving for 26 years.
“You retired home in Osun and fortituously found service with your people. You offered to serve in the committee that mediate between labour and government. With your wisdom and experience, you brokered a regime of cordial and harmonious relationship between workers and the government,” Ogbeni Aregbesola said.
