With deep grief the WFTU is announcing the passing away of comrade Abdul Kareem Motajo, ex Member of WFTU Presidential Council and Former General Secretary of NUATE Nigeria.
Report of his death came to us yesterday that he passed away in Cuba after a brief illness.
Comrade Motajo was a soldier in the first line of the class struggles, always ready to work, with audacity into practical work, and always fought in the first line of the WFTU for the benefits of the workers and people of Nigeria from his position as acting General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport workers NUATE. Through his union struggles he always fought for the interests of his members union but also for the sector of air transport workers in national and regional level.
As a member of the WFTU Presidential Council from 2011-2016 he had travelled a lot in Africa and internationally participating in the various activities of the WFTU and solidarity missions in various continents.
In the late 1980s, Motajo, a member of the Socialist Working People’s Party (SWPP) and then he went to Cuba for studies. Some years later the Labour Redemption Movement in Nigeria was found at the beginning of 1993 cde Motajo was interim publicity secretary.
Cde Motajo worked as a full-time secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). Shortly after, during the Abacha period, he became General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE). After the reinstatement of the republic, he was ousted in a power struggle within NUATE. In the various struggles of his union in Nigeria he remained undaunted, he would come back years later as Assistant General Secretary of the union and rise back to become its General Secretary, a position he held till he 60 years in 2015 when he retired. During his period as GS of NUATE, and for a few years after, he also served as a member of the Presidential Council of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). One can say his sole efforts more or less led to winning almost a dozen affiliates of both the NLC and TUC to the WFTU.
One thing which made cde Motajo stand heads and shoulders above most comrades of his generation, was his readiness to organise and fight on the field. He was someone you could go into battle with, without the slightest fear that he would not hold his ground.
The WFTU Leadership, the members and friends of comrade Motajo express to his wife Arike Motajo and family its wholehearted condolences.
We take comfort in the fact that our comrade lived a good life and touched many a life. He was a bold soldier in many ways of the WFTU class trade union movement in many ways. His deeds and strength of character will never be forgotten. His fight is over, but the struggle continues until victory.
Fare well comrade Motajo, Rest in Power!
The WFTU Secretariat