Celebrating Comrade Hassan Sunmonu (HA) @ 85

Today,  January 7, 2026, all comrades, progressive forces and well-wishers converge in Abuja for the 85th birthday celebration of Comrade Alhaji Hassan Adebayo (HA) Sunmonu OON. Comrade HA was the pioneer, founding President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), twice elected NLC President (1978 to 1984). He was the longest repeatedly elected former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) based in Accra ( October 1986 to December 2012, some 26 years and two months). A regular delegate at conferences of the International Labour Organisation spanning decades. The high point of the 85th birthday celebration is the formal presentation of his Memoirs entitled “ORGANIZE, DON’T AGONIZE”. 

Born with his identical twin brother, Engr. Hussein Sunmonu, on January 7, 1941, at Osogbo, in Osun State, the Sunmonus are the most spectacular identical twins to see any day! It seems age sharpens their similarities in mannerisms and outlook. I recall in 2010, HA was honoured by the Michael Imoudu Institute for Labour Studies ( MINILS), Ilorin, with a fellowship in recognition of his consistent promotion of Labour education. His twin brother Hussein represented him. As a privileged reciter of the profile of the recipient, only I and the then Director General of the Institute, John Olanrewaju, knew it was Engr Hussein Sunmonu who took the centre-stage and NOT Comrade HA! Many were in disbelief when Engr. Hussein disclosed he was receiving the award on behalf of his twin brother, who could not come in person! The difference was not clear in their voices, gestures and jokes.

HA is an acknowledged, tested, committed trade unionist, a patriot, a pan Africanist and a global citizen of profound integrity. He was raised and mentored in a developmentalist Nigeria. A product of the then-functional public schools. He started his education career at Ansar-Ud-Deen School in Osogbo between 1948 – 1950. He attended All Saints School, Osogbo, between 1950 – 1954, where he got his First School Leaving Certificate in December 1954; 1955, Osogbo Grammar School, then to Yaba Technical Institute in September 1957. He obtained a General Certificate in Education (GCE) Ordinary Level in 1961, later bagged the Secondary Technical Certificate, moved to Yaba College of Technology between 1961 to 1964, obtained the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Civil Engineering, and the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Civil Engineering. HA proceeded to Italy for a Post-Graduate Diploma Course in Highway Engineering. His educational grounding shows that, contrary to the false class assumption of the ruling (ruining!) elite, the labour movement is indeed knowledge-led. One essential imprint of HA is cultivating a knowledge-based movement. As the founding President of the NLC, he consciously attracted first-class conscious graduate activists to the NLC as full-time officers. On graduating in the late 80s, he single-handedly pulled me out of an equally fulfilling media job to the NLC to swell the ranks of the NLC Secretariat, ably led by the late Dr Lasisi Osunde, supported by tested comrades like Lawson Osiagie, Dr Yahaya Hashim, Salisu Muhammed, Femi Aborishade and several others. He pioneered the inclusion of labour candidates on the participants’ list of NIPSS, Kuru Jos. A witty wag and a “mobile library”, trade unionists and comrades alike globally cannot wait for his compelling memoir! As the President of the NLC, he was a resource fellow at the seminar series of the Senior Executive course (SEC 2) of 1980. After the usual question and answer sessions, he demanded for labour participation at the executive course initiated by Obasanjo’s military regime, meant to build capacity for executives drawn from the tripod of government, business and labour communities, with the objective of working towards a better society. Since then, NLC/TUC had sent scores of participants who are now members of the National Institute (MINILS). 

HA was almost an activist by birth. And he is still organising at 85 ( a national trustee of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU!). He was a star Veteran speaker at the 2025 May Day rally at Eagle Square in Abuja. Once an organisational man, always one! Comrade Hassan Sunmonu was once an active Students’ Union leader; Secretary, Muslim Students’ Society (MSS), Yaba Technical Institute Branch between 1958 – 1961, National Auditor, Muslim Students’ Union Society of Nigeria between 1962 -1967, President, Yaba College of Technology Students’ Union between September 1966 – June, 1967. He was President, National Association of Technological Students (NATS) between September 1966 – June, 1967 and Second Vice President, National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) between September 1966 – June 1967.

His unblemished trade union career has spanned well over five decades! He was once the second Assistant Secretary (International), Public Works Aerodrome Technical and General Works’ Union of Nigeria between August 1974 – November 1977; President, Civil Service Technical Workers Union of Nigeria between November, 1977 – February, 1981; President, Nigeria Labour Congress between February 1978 – February, 1984;, Director of Industrial Relations, Civil Service Technical Workers Union of Nigeria between march 1984 – October, 1986. Until recently, he was the Secretary-General of, Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) from October 1986. HA’s trade union career was both by popular elections through workers’ votes and also by full appointment.

Following the recommendations of the Justice Adebiyi Tribunal of Inquiry into the Activities of the Trade Unions in 1977, under the military, some unionists, including no1 Labour leader, Chief Micheal Imoudu, were “banned” from trade union activities. Under the controversial policy of “guided democracy” and “limited government intervention”, the military regime of Obasanjo aimed at cultivating a tamed and subservient labour centre. However, the workers reaffirmed their preference for an independent organisation by electing Hassan Sunmonu as the first President of the restructured congress in 197,8 with others like D.C. Ojeli, P.O. Ero-Philips, late M. E. Mpamungo, Deputy President, Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer respectively. HA’s leadership of NLC from 1978 to 1984 is a compulsory read for today’s trade unionists on how to operate under a new democratic dispensation. NLC under HA fought and won the battle to make May 1 a public holiday, fought and won the struggle for a new minimum wage of N125 ($240) in 1981 after a successful nationwide strike under President Shehu Shagari’s administration. Given the current poverty of knowledge on the imperatives of national minimum wage among most state governors, legislators, I recommend Comrade Alhaji Hassan Adebayo and his Memoirs for beginners in minimum wage determination through collective bargaining and collective actions.

Notwithstanding the divisive strategy of the second Republic politicians aimed at splitting the NLC into “democrats” and “Marxists”, HA sustained the unity of the trade movement through all inclusive, ideologically-driven movement. He championed similar unity efforts within NLC in 2015 under his respected chairmanship.

Very few unionists courageously talked straight to power. The historic Charter of Demands under HA leadership remains the first agenda-setting document for decent work by Nigeria’s working class. As a worker, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu had added value to developmentalist Nigeria. As an engineer with Federal Ministry of works, he worked on so many offices and road projects that included Zaria – Kano Road reconstruction; Igolo – Porto Novo Road (Benin Republic); dualization of Denton Causeway (Oyingbo – Iddo, Lagos) by direct labour; construction of the National Arts Theatre, Lagos; and construction of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, among others. A multi-linguist; he is fluent in Yoruba, English, French, Italian and Twi (Ghanaian language). HA has been honoured nationally and internationally. Recipient of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on December 18, 2001, he was also honoured with the National Order of Burkina Faso in December 2009. Happy 85th birthday to both HA, twin brother, Hussein Sunmonu! and providentially his wife, Alhaja Wasilat Titilayo Sunmonu, who shares his birthday with him and turns 76 today! Happy birthday to a legendary veteran comrade. 

By Comrade Issa AREMU mni.                                                                                          Director General Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies ( MINILS)

 Image source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/829577-comrade-hassan-sunmonu-a-voice-of-reason-on-democracy-and-development-by-toyin-falola.html