Comrade Joseph.I Akinlaja Akinlaja
GENERAL SECRETARY 2000-2004
HON. (COMRADE) JOSEPH IRANOLA AYANFUSI AKINLAJA
GENERAL SECRETARY (2000 – 2004)
Comrade Joseph Iranola Ayanfusi Akinlaja was born on June 1, 1950, in Lemosho, a farming community in Ondo State, Nigeria, to the family of Pa. Badejo and Madam Bolametiren Akinlaja. From his humble beginnings in a farming hamlet, he rose to prominence as a key figure in Nigeria’s trade unionism and political development, dedicating his life to the struggles for workers’ rights and social justice.
He received his primary and secondary education in Ondo State before pursuing higher education at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, where he earned both his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Electrical/Electronics Engineering. While studying, he worked with British Petroleum (BP), later African Petroleum (AP), where he began his journey in trade unionism.
Driven by a passion for liberating education, Comrade Akinlaja furthered his studies at prestigious institutions such as the Patrice Lumumba Labour Academy in Moscow, USSR; the International Institute for Labour Studies in Geneva, Switzerland; and the Higher Trade Union Institute in Hungary. He also participated in numerous local and international courses, equipping himself with the knowledge and skills to lead and advocate for workers’ rights.
On April 1, 1982, Comrade Akinlaja joined the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) as an Assistant General Secretary (AGS) at the National Secretariat in Lagos. During his tenure, he spearheaded numerous struggles and negotiations that significantly improved the welfare of oil and gas workers. He is particularly credited, alongside other NUPENG leaders, with fully organizing the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG (PTD-NUPENG), the mechanized arm of the union.
His dedication and leadership saw him rise to the position of General Secretary of NUPENG in 2000, and later, Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). After a distinguished career in trade unionism, he voluntarily retired from NUPENG in 2004 and transitioned into politics. He contested and won a seat in the Federal House of Representatives, representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2019.
Beyond his political and unionist achievements, Comrade Akinlaja is also an accomplished businessman and author. He has documented his experiences and insights in several books, including NUPENG: An Example in Progressive Unionism, The Place of Petroleum Tanker Drivers in NUPENG, and his autobiography, LABOUR, POLITICS AND GRACE.
Hon. (Comrade) Joseph I. Akinlaja’s life is a testament to resilience, dedication, and service to humanity, leaving an indelible mark on Nigeria’s labour movement and political landscape.
