Five days before the election of officers, president of the National Union of Public Workers, Akanni McDowall, is withdrawing from the race.
Via an online media conference, McDowall alleged political interference in the election process, but said he would remain a member of the union.
“My tenure as president placed me in the crosshairs of many but I always embraced this as part of the course. When you are fighting for justice and enfranchisement, you yourself become a target for those who do not share your mission, purpose or passion,” he said.
McDowall headed the trade union for six years, but the last few months, according to him, were the “most challenging” in his 20-year association with the NUPW.
He was suspended and went to court. Justice Cecil McCarthy last month ruled in his favour, granting an injunction for the postponement of the elections.
During the conference, McDowall listed some of the achievements of his presidency. These included the appointment of more than 1 000 workers and establishment of 555 posts and a 5 per cent salary increase for all public workers for the period 2018/19 after none in the previous decade.
McDowall spoke of his participation in negotiations for implementing the BOSS programme (no
public servant went home), flexible working arrangement policy and improved working conditions in various organisations across the public service. (SAT)
