Former Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.) has died at the age of 82 in a London hospital, drawing tributes from across the nation, including from the labour movement.

In a condolence message, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, expressed deep sadness over the passing of the former leader.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing away of our former President… Our hearts are with the immediate family, friends, and associates in these trying moments, especially his activist wife, Hajiya Aisha,” Ajaero stated.

Describing Buhari as a leader who devoted his life to Nigeria, Ajaero acknowledged that while Buhari’s first term in office was marred by long periods of medical absence, he remained resilient until his final days.

“Even out of office, his ramrod frame and long measured strides on his farm were seen as a sign of enduring strength,” he said, adding, “but we are all mortal.”

Ajaero reflected on Buhari’s two stints in leadership first as a young military head of state and later as a civilian president noting that his legacy remains subject to individual and historical judgment.

“What the results were are entirely left to history and the individual,” he noted. “But it is near-unanimous that Buhari was associated with a single-mindedness of purpose sometimes seen as stubbornness in protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and dignity.”

He recalled that Buhari’s military regime was marked by mass retrenchments and hardship for workers. “For us in the unions, Buhari came fighting the unions and mass-retrenching workers,” Ajaero said.

“However, as a civilian president, Buhari corrected that course. No worker was laid off, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Ajaero also praised Buhari’s efforts to support state governments in clearing salary and pension backlogs. “He repeatedly gave facilities to states to enable regular salary payments, though some governors betrayed this trust,” he noted.

While Buhari did approve increases in the pump price of petroleum products, Ajaero highlighted that he refused to sell off national refineries or succumb to pressure to float the naira. “He consistently identified with workers’ values, resisting harsh market policies to protect the ordinary Nigerian,” he said.

Ajaero concluded as he described Buhari as “a leader who corrected his past mistakes, stood with the people, and put the country first no matter the cost.”

“May Allah forgive his sins and grant him peaceful repose,” he added.