By  Funmi Komolafe (Former Labour Editor)

If there was any department that truly reflected the motto of Vanguard, “ Towards  A  Better Life for the People”,  it was the Labour  desk of the editorial department

Labour reporting though at that time, not generating money for the company, it was sustained because of the genuine concern of the publisher, Uncle Sam Amuka, for a general improvement in the lives of the people of Nigeria through the activities of the trade unions.

Consequently, either it was a military or civilian government, Vanguard continued to report the activities of organized labour and its civil society allies.

Our consistent report of the 11 NEPA union leaders jailed for economic sabotage as a result of a national strike, during the government of General Ibrahim Babangida, made the General say

“Vanguard would not let me rest”.   

The men were subsequently pardoned.

Our May Day stories were refreshingly different.   

Indeed, the consistent report of   workplace issues endeared Vanguard to Government, Labour, and Organized Labour.

Vanguard became the paper of reference for corporate employers.

The publisher’s encouragement made us break many stories that impacted the lives of workers and, indeed, Nigerians.

I recall that Vanguard broke the story of the N250.00 per month national minimum wage.  

My humble self wrote the story.

That was  the only National Minimum Wage that the Nigeria Labour Congress didn’t have to go on strike or protests to achieve.   The delegation that met then military President Ibrahim Babangida was led by then NLC President Paschal Bafyau (now late), who achieved this feat.

Our creativity sustained the labour pages when the NLC was dissolved by the military giving intra union crisis as an excuse.

NUPENG and PENGASSAN also had their executives sacked and their leaders detained for engaging in the struggle for democracy as a result of the June 12, 1993, election imbroglio

However, covering strikes wasn’t without a prize for us as reporters.

How can I forget the attack on my person by irate workers at Alausa in Lagos state? Or the assault by the Police on  Rotimi Ajayi and I while covering workers’ protests in Abuja.

Perhaps the most painful memory of our  labour reporting  experience was the death of the deputy photo editor of Vanguard, Mr. Tunji Oyeleru.  

Oyeleru presented the best photograph of  the protest of union leaders and workers in Lagos.   As a result, he was invited to  Maiduguri, Borno state, by the NLC leadership to cover their protest.

Unfortunately, we lost him and another Comrade Chima Ubani to a motor accident.

Covering labour as hazardous as it was presented one with professional fulfilment as Vanguard gave labour stories more prominence than other newspapers.

Another person with whom we made the Labour Reporting  in Vanguard unique was Joe Ajaero.

He later left us to work for the electricity  union, and today, he is the president of the NLC.

How can I forget the day I had an interview with Adams Oshiomhole and had to drive home from his Ikeja guest house well past midnight on the lonely  Lagos roads.

On our beats,  many would call me Funmi Vanguard.   That was the popular name in the Ministry of Labour and indeed government parastatals that I had to cover.

When Victor Ahiuma-Young joined us, he had the nickname ‘Oshiomhole’ . 

Oshiomhole was the NLC president then.

However,  one must say that although Vanguard reported and still reports Labour, some of our colleagues were decidedly anti-labour even as workers. Our differences notwithstanding, we  still worked together to inform, educate, and entertain the people.

Our labour reporting, which was pioneered by Owei Lakemfa, also gave adequate coverage to gender issues. 

Reminiscences   of our years of labour reporting would be incomplete without  a mention of our sub-editor, Peter Okhiria, and later, Mr. Azu Akanwa (of blessed memory).

At a point, we had to make labour reporting financially relevant. Hence, I pioneered the celebration of Labour Leader No. 1, Chief Michael Imodu of blessed memory.   The response was beyond my imagination.   Unions responded  with adverts, Vanguard smiled to the banks, and I, too, earned more.

Other newspapers noticed our achievement and emulated Vanguard.

Vanguard as an organization encourages hard work and professionalism.

In 1991,  I became the first journalist to  be awarded the National Productivity Merit Award, based on the recommendation of my Editor, Mr. Frank Aigbogun.

I was to serve on that presidential award committee for 10 years.   That Committee made recommendations to the President to present the NPOM award to deserving Nigerians in all areas.

I came to Vanguard as a young girl aspiring to make my mark in my chosen profession, and this was achieved by the grace of God and the support of my editors and indeed the publisher.

I  am proud to have been associated  with Vanguard  for 27 years – 1988 to 2015. 

In the 27 years of service that I worked with Vanguard, I did not incur a single libel suit against Vanguard.

Our newspaper had no reason to refute any of my stories.

On this 40th anniversary of Vanguard, I wish our paper more success. 

This vision of our great Uncle Sam would never die.

Congratulations to all staff past and present.