Hassan Sunmonu
The Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, labour leaders across Africa and eminent Nigerians have appreciated and congratulated Alhaji Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu, a renowned labour leader and veteran trade unionist, on his 85th birthday on January 7, 2026.
The birthday coincided with the public presentation of a book entitled ‘“Organise Don’t Agonise”, Tactics, Trials and Triumphs from Six Decades in the Trenches, an author biography by Hassan Sunmonu, OON.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a foreword to the 20 chapter and 289 pages book, published by the University Press Plc, Ibadan South-west Nigeria.
Shower of Praises
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu opened the frontiers of praises in a statement from the State House, signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information & Strategy.
Tinubu highlights Alhaji Sunmonu’s immense contributions to nation-building and commends his commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers.
“One cannot help but notice Alhaji Sunmonu’s outstanding pioneering leadership within the labour force and commitment to the well-being of workers.
“His emergence at the pinnacle of the labour movement is instructive. It’s on record that, before NLC’s formation in 1978, the Obasanjo government had disbanded four national labour unions, including the moderate United Labour Congress, led by Haroun Adebola, and the more radical Nigeria Trade Union Congress.
“As labour leader, Sunmonu’s NLC presented a Charter of Demands that, among other things, eventually led to the institutionalisation of a national minimum wage and minimum pension scheme.”
Alhaji Sunmonu has been involved in the labour movement and in the agitation for improvements in workers’ welfare for decades.
He was president of the Nigerian Labour Congress from 1978 to 1984. He was also formerly General Secretary of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said Pa Hassan Sunmonu,
“is a reliable and trusted Nigeria who transform the Nigerian Labour Congress into a continental and global brand. He is passionate about labour welfare across board and serve Nigeria diligently through labour activism till date” .
As the Chairman of the book launch, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo , said he was proud to have established the Nigerian Labour Congress , led , managed by a Nigerian and funded by Nigerian workers through check off dues.
In his foreword to the book, President Obasanjo wrote :
” The book answers the how? where? why? what? and when? about Hassan’s life, living and management of trade Unionism in Nigeria and Africa. It is lesson in leadership and must read for anyone in leadership or anyone who aspires to leadership position in any walks of life”
Another Nigerian Head of State, General Abdul Salami Abubakar said Pa Sunmonu is a reliable and reasonable labour leader who supported him during his stewardship at the federal ministry of Labour.
The three Nigerian leaders thanked Alhaji Sunmonu for his passion for workers’ welfare, wishes him continued good health and renewed strength.
Day of Testimonies on Value of Leadership
Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, former Executive Secretary ECOWAS and Africa Union High Representative for Sahel described the life of labour icon, Hassan Sunmonu , as an example of effective and developmental unionism Africa.
Dr Ibn Chambas said this in a keynote address at the 85th birthday celebration of Sunmonu on Wednesday in Abuja.
The address was entitled: ” Celebrating 85 years of Purpose: The Life, Legacy and Enduring Vision of Comrade Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu; Lesson and Prospects for Nigerian and Africa Workers.”
Chambas said that the labour icon offered an enduring model that would continue to inspire trade unionists in challenging any repressive political dispensation.
‘’His career offers a case study in how labour leadership can be both militant and institution-building- a model useful to trade-unionists facing repressive or transitional political orders.
‘’Pa Hassan Sunmonu’s life is best read as the arc of a practical organiser who built institutions. His balanced approach- readiness to strike combined with negotiation and institutional work- helped the labour movement survive political suppression and become an enduring actor in public life,” he added.
’His journey mirrors the modern history of African labour itself,” he said.
A Courageous and Good Mentor – Senator Adams Oshiomhole
A former President Nigeria Labour Congress and Governor of Edo State now a serving Senator of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomole has described Pa Hasan Sunmonu as a courageous labour leader and a good mentor to young labour union leaders across Africa.
Specifically , in Nigeria, Comrade Oshiomhole said Pa Hassan Sunmonu led major union rallies for the introduction of minimum wage and declaration of a public holiday on Workers Day. Pa Sunmonu also recruited young graduates into the Labour union secretariat including Comrade Isa Aremu, Director General Imodu Center for Labour Institute.
In his words today “ we are celebrating Pa Hassan Sunmonu for his human kindness, love sacrifice and honesty.
An International Labour Leader Per Excellence
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Former Nigerian Minister for Interior and Governor of Osun State, now Secretary of the opposition political party , African Democratic Congress, ADC, said Pa Sunmonu has tremendous international contacts of Labour unions globally for necessary assistance to Nigeria.
He shared his experience as a Governor of Osun State in 2010 , when Pa Sunmonu used his contacts in the Chinese Workers Union to brokered support for revitalisation of railway transportation for Osun State. According to him,
” the Chinese Labour Center through its workers union railway company promised the provision of 8 railway coaches and training of engineers to Osun State. Unfortunately, the gestures were not realisable due to bureaucratic reasons from the Nigerian government then”.
To the labour activist and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, Pa Sunmonu has lived a fulfilling life with the support of his wife of over 50 years.
Bishop Hassan Kuka of the Sokoto Catholic Dioceses, Pa Hassan Sunmonu drew inferences from a very industrious, spartan and Islamic devoted life styles of Hassan Sunmonu .
He recalled instances where the author rejected political appointment as a Minister during the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida administration and bribe from the government of former President Shehu Shagari.
A Devoted Muslim and Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Hassan Sunmonu Islamic religion upbringing and shared values of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community slogan ” Love For All Hatred For None ” were major source of his service to the people and admiration by friends across the world. He was a founding member of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
The iconic African labour leader was the National Secretary External Affairs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat of Nigeria, and currently, Chairman Board of Trustees of the Minaret University, Ikirun. A first private secular university established by the Ahmadiyya Community globally.
The Identical Twins
Hassan Sunmonu has an identical twin called Hussein Oyekanmi Sunmonu, “HO”. Both twins grew up to share so many things in common. They went to same schools, studied same Civil Engineering course, work in the same Ministry federal of Works , married same day and attained the zenith of their career in Life.
While Hassan was a global labour leader , Hussein retired as Director of Works at the federal Ministry of Works. He supervised the construction of the ECOWAS high way from Lagos -Badagry- Seme Ponji in Benin Republic. Hussein Sunmonu was a former Amir ( Head) Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat of Nigeria.
A note of Appreciation from Hassan Sunmonu
Hassan Sunmonu, was full of appreciation for the honour given to him by the labour community across Africa and cross section of Nigerians who attended the book presentation. The bilingual unionist counselled : “any public officials and union leader must not betray the trust of the people”.
He was full of hope that Nigeria will survive the current challenges , calling on Nigerians to “ stay the course in the interest of our coming generations”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Sunmonu
Additional Source : (NAN)
About the Author
