A Social Justice advocate, Dr Bashir Olanrewaju has advised labour movement in Nigeria to leverage its political and social influence to ensure a peaceful political transition by mobilising support for credible candidates and advocating for good governance.
Olanrewaju gave the advice in Ibadan, while delivering the lecture at the 2025 Oyo State Labour Veterans Association award day in Ibadan.
He charged the labour movement to be actively involved particularly in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
Olanrewaju said for Nigeria to develop, democracy must survive, while labour must play a critical ahead the elections.
On the role of the labour movement in political transition, he said that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) must evolve beyond defending workers’ rights to becoming a significant political force and social change agent.
Olanrewaju, is also a public servant, strategic leader and community champion and human rights activist.
He said active political intervention by the labour Congress uses strategies like alliance building, networking, and party formation to advance its vision for a just, democratic society free from oppression.
Speaking on the challenges being faced for a peaceful transition, Olanrewaju said that, “despite its influence, the Nigerian labour movement faces several challenges in building bridges towards a peaceful political transition.
”Labour movement has struggled with leadership squabbles and a lack of internal democracy, which can weaken its collective voice and public trust.
”To effectively navigate these challenges and contribute to a peaceful transition, the labour movement can focus on several opportunities.
”Opportunity like the youth engagement, strengthening internal democracy, building broad coalitions, advocacy for legislative reform and effective negotiation ” Olanrewaju said.
In his address, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Kamorudeen Aderibigbe, said, “what you are doing today is what is expected of a leader for peace to reign supreme in any society.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to Governor Seyi Makinde as the Best Workers Friendly Governor, represented by the Special Adviser on Labour, Titilola Sodo, and Chairman of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Ademola Babalola, who received Award of Excellence, among other notable Nigerians.
