From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
There is an adage that says, “the taste of good food is in the eating” hence it is not a thing of surprise to most workers in Kogi State and beyond as the exemplary leadership quality of the immediate past labour leader in the state, Comrade Onuh Edoka.
Comrade Edoka has been noticed and honoured by the Micheal Imoudu Insitute of Labour at an elaborate event recently held in Ilorin, Kwara State with an award of Fellow National Insitute of Labour ( FNIL) by the Institute.
Edoka whose tenure as the Labour leader in Kogi State brought lots of unprecedented improvement of workers welfare has been in the union affairs close to three decades from a humble background as the a branch secretary , Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria,Olamaboro LGA of Kogi State in the year 1995, he equally served as the zonal secretary in 1996,Kogi East.
His dedication to the activities of the union earned him the confidence of workers having performed exceeding well and got re-elected as the branch chairman, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigera in 1997 to year 2000 and got elevated to the position of the Zonal Chairman, Kogi East 1998 to 2001.
He was also elected state treasurer, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria year 2001 to 2005 for the first term and got re_ elected 2005 to 2009.
On 17th September, 2009 he was again elected the State Chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria and by 19th October,2014 he was re – elected second term in the same office.
Having displayed competence, commitment and dedication to duty, he was at a time elected chairman, Joint Health Sector Union (JOHSU) and also served as the chairman of all Unions in Kogi State.
However, in April to be precise on 25th April 2015 he was elected to the office of the state chairman , Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) the first of its kind in the history of Kogi State labour union to get re-elected the position he used excellently well for the transformation of workers well-being and brought sanity to the administration of workers union in the state.
Presently, Comrade Onuh Edoka is the National Vice President of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria,North Central Zone with 6 States including FCT.
It would be recalled that , Comrade Edoka started as financial secretary and social director of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) 1990 when he was called “The Small Union Boy” but mighty in ideas and intelligent.
Comrade Edoka who could not hide his joy for the recognition of his exemplary quality in leadership, appreciates God Almighty for the gift of life and opportunity to serve at various capacities till date and dedicated the award to the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria and the entire workers of Kogi State for making him worthy for the award.
He equally appreciated the National President of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the general secretary for the recommendation and thanked Comrade Isah Aremu, Director General Micheal Imoudu Institute of Labour for confering the award of Fellow, National Insitute of Labour (FNIL) on him.
According to Comrade Edoka “In every struggle of life, reaching the end successfully is the greatest achievement of success.”
