He was arguably the most popular and widely acclaimed leader of trade unionism in the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) and perhaps, the most popular among all leaders of the unions in the Nigerian maritime sector.
He was arguably the most popular and widely acclaimed leader of trade unionism in the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) and perhaps, the most popular among all leaders of the unions in the Nigerian maritime sector.
From all the accounts that we have been able to access, Comrade Billy Graham Oroh who died about four months ago pioneered the principle of wel;farism within the work force in NPA. He was President of the NPA Workers Union between 1988 and 1992, before the industrial unions in the Nigerian maritime industry were merged to form the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
Late Comrade Billy Oroh, son of a steward, started out as footballer shortly after arrival from Ghana. He reportedly played football in Accra, precisely for the popular Accra Heart of Oaks as a goal keeper and was also seconded to the national team of Ghana; the Black Stars.
It was through his mastery of football that he joined NPA in 1970; he was based in Warri port and was still playing football.
Comrade Oroh actually cut his trade unionism teeth in Warri, rising through the ladder to become the chairman of Delta state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, a position he combined with that of being chairman of Delta Port District of NPA Workers Union.
It was from this position in Delta state NLC that he was drafted to the larger NPA unionism arena, and we were told that late Comrade Oroh fought against seemingly more formidable activists to emerge as the President of NPA Workers’ Union.
Following the merger with other unions to form MWUN, Comrade Oroh became less prominent, but still very respected by successive leaders of the union. Infact, the immediate past president general of the union Comrade Onikolease Irabor is one of those who were tutored by the late Billy Oroh.
The legacy of selfless service that late Oroh bequeathed to the union was manifest as successive leadership had a benchmark in responsible leadership.
It is commendable that while Comrade Oroh’s counterpart at the Dockworkers Union of Nigeria (who later became the first president general of the MWUN) Comrade Uzoije Ukaumunna became a ‘terror’ to NPA and to owners of ships coming into Nigerian ports, the late Comrade Oroh adopted a more constructive and mature approach to handle all issues that were labour-related.
It is to his credit that the take-home pay of NPA employees has been enhanced. At the peak of plans by the federal government in 1991 to privatise NPA, Comrade Oroh stood his grounds, fought the military government to standstill and instead of privatization, he secured a commercialisation deal for NPA. This resulted into a new salary structure for NPA workers outside the civil service package.
He resisted pressure to compromise, he never buckled under the weight of detention and intimidation; rather, he stood by his members and put their interests first.
When asked about Oroh as the President of NPA Workers Union, a longtime friend and ally of his, Mr Paul Obire told this newspaper in clear words that: “I want to say that the period that Oroh was president was a period NPA gained its place in the committee of corporations in Nigeria. I know how many times he was offered bribe for him to let certain issues go, instead Oroh would turn it down and he told them that he was not there to sell his people.”
While leaders of other sister unions were busy doing their things, Comrade Oroh was busy fighting for a robust future for NPA workers. Some became gods with an ‘army of bodyguards’ which dealt with perceived enemies, there were allegations of ‘hijack’ of incoming vessels for ransom flying around.
But Comrade Graham Billy Oroh never had a hand in these; he was busy fighting for NPA workers.
We were told that, (sadly) until a few years ago, the late NPA workers’ icon had no befitting home in his village. Towards the tail end of his life, he lived on the benevolence of some good spirited leaders of the MWUN; including NPA branch. That was the servant union leader that late Comrade Billy Graham Oroh was.
There was no Shipping Position Daily when Comrade Graham Billy Oroh held sway in the ports, but going by the recorded and verbal accounts of his exploits, indeed, we are convinced that he must have been a good man to the union and to NPA.
We also like to put on records the contributions of the national president of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents; Prince Olayiwola Shittu in our search for facts about the late GB Oroh. Not many people knew that GB Oroh and Prince Shittu were very close allies, way back in Warri, Delta state as employees of NPA. Our search took us to Warri, where the late Oroh started from and we unraveled a lot interesting facts about the departed.
As his remains will be committed to mother earth this weekend, we recommend his approach to current and future trade union leaders in the nation’s maritime industry, even as we pray that his soul rest in the bosom of his creator. Amen.
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