By Jacinta Nwachukwu
Prof. Jonathan Ogidi, a retired staff of National Mathematical Centre (NMC), has urged union members to always engage in dialogue while resolving industrial issues, urging them to desist from confrontational action.
Ogidi gave the advice during a send-off ceremony, organised by the NMC chapter of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) in honour of Ogidi and Mrs Christiana Aje in Abuja on Thursday.
“I believe strongly in dialogue and I do consider them in that way. Unionism is not a parallel government.
“So, I will take this opportunity to call on the NMC academic staff to be a union member. Even if there’s nothing for you to gain immediately, you gain social assurance.
“Therefore, I stand here today to say, please let us uphold unionism on the level of contribution.
“The masquerade that works alone, they will unveil him, that is why unionism is good,” he said.
Ogidi also urged unionists to remain in the unionism that contributes to the betterment of the system, adding that unionism is not a parallel government.
“Unionism is supposed to look for the betterment of the system, advise the management on how to get things right properly.”
He also thanked the leadership of CONUA for the honour while attributing his success to God’s grace and favour.
“If not for God and the effort of my late mother, I will not be anything else than a village boy but for the pastor that said send this boy to school.”
The don further tasked civil servants on selfless services, saying hard work pays.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Director/Chief Executive Officer, NMC, Prof. Promise Mebine, described the retired members of staff as committed and distinct personalities, very humble and never dispositioned to render services.
Mebine also emphasised on the need to treat everybody equally no matter the status.
On his part, the Chairman of CONUA, Awogbemi Adeyeye, said the union considered it necessary to honour the duo for their contributions, commitment and support to the centre and the union in particular while in service.
Adeyeye urged them not to relent in their services to humanity, praying that the opportunity they could not get while in service, God will provide them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Prof. Ogidi and Mrs Aje retired at 70 and 65 years respectively. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
