The National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees (NUSDE) has inaugurated its National Interim Committee that would ensure the effective running and repositioning of the union.
The Chairman, Concerned Members, NUSDE, Mr Timothy Agbola, presented the nine-man interim committee members on Wednesday in Lagos.
Among members of the committee, Mr Aminu Megbotowon, emerged as the Acting National President, while Mr Augustine Nnwakolam was appointed Acting General Secretary.
Agbola said that the committee had been saddled with the responsibility to reposition the union within six months including organising a delegate conference that would usher in the new leadership of the union.
“For the effective running of the union, therefore, we are going to put in a nine-man National Interim Committee that will organise special delegates conference and conduct a credible election within six months.
“They should know that they have to redouble their effort so that we can achieve the desired objectives of core unionism.
“Also, it is our ultimate hope that they will revive the fortunes of the union; they have just six months to carry out the assignment before them,” Agbola said.
Earlier in his speech, Agbola said that the union was rocked by a crisis as far back as 2018, alleging power tussle, corruption, and misappropriation of funds by some aggrieved members of the union.
The chairman said that as a result of the crisis, members and secretariat staff were experiencing hardship including owed salaries.
“Therefore, it is high time we moved beyond the fog of the crisis that has dogged our union from the past till the present time.
“We have come a long way; NUSDE must survive beyond individual self-serving interest,” Agbola said.
In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed Acting President, Megbontowon, said it was the duty of the committee to protect the sanctity of the union.
“Comrades, the state of our union, NUSDE, needs our collective sacrifice, commitment, and dedication geared toward rebuilding the union.
“Unionisation, organising, training, staff welfare, implementation of Pension Reform Act, Employees Compensation Act, labour laws and other extant laws will be our priority.
“This is, while we wish to assure you of robust representation,” he said.
