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Water justice groups hail Manji’s election as AUPCTRE president – EnviroNews
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The water justice community in Nigeria has congratulated the newly elected national executive of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), led by its new National President, Comrade Eugene Manji.
The groups described the election of Manji and his team as a reflection of what they characterised as the desire of union members and Nigerians for purposeful leadership, while pledging to collaborate with the new executive to defend public services and workers’ rights.
Manji was elected at the 7th National Delegates Conference of AUPCTRE, held from September 23 to 24, 2026, in Kano State.
Other members of the newly elected national executive include National Deputy Presidents, Comrades Uzu Fidelis and Ibrahim Kirfi; National Vice President, Central Zone, Comrade Umaja Aloysius; National Vice President, Federal Zone, Comrade Adoga Abdullahi; National Vice President, Western Zone, Comrade Adebayo Adedoyin; and National Vice President, South-South Zone, Comrade Joman Bernard.
Others are National Vice President, Eastern Zone, Comrade Bashir Chibuzo; National Vice President, North-West Zone, Comrade Samaila Abdullahi; National Vice President, North-East Zone, Comrade Moses Helda; National Treasurer, Comrade Farotimi Olusoji; National Secretary Finance, Comrade Rabiu Abdulrahman; and National Auditors, Comrades Rashila Alkali and Nnamachi Anthony.
The election was supervised by the Registrar of Trade Unions, who represented the Minister of Labour and Employment.
In a statement made available to the media, civil society and faith-based organisations described the emergence of the new executive as a “breath of fresh air”, saying they expected the leadership to strengthen campaigns against the privatisation of essential public services.
They also pledged to work with the union to defend workers’ rights and citizens’ access to quality public services, particularly water.
The Executive Director of Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF), Comrade Sani Baba, said the organisation was encouraged by the outcome of the election, describing Manji as someone who had spent years challenging what he termed impunity in public service delivery.
“We are elated about the election outcomes. Comrade Manji has been in the trenches for years challenging impunity in the delivery of public services,” Baba said.
He expressed confidence that the new leadership would strengthen campaigns against water privatisation and other public utilities while maintaining cooperation between the union and civil society organisations.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Philip Jakpor, described Manji’s election as deserved, recalling his campaigns against the privatisation of water and other public utilities during his tenure as AUPCTRE state chairman in Plateau State.
“This good news is coming at a time that accountability and affordable access to public services is being systematically replaced with profit-driven motives that continue to burden low-income communities across Nigeria,” Jakpor said.
The Coordinator of the Ecumenical Water Network Africa, Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi, said the new AUPCTRE leadership could play an important role in challenging policies that turn essential services into profit-driven commodities.
“We believe the new leadership of AUPCTRE led by Comrade Manji will continue to challenge the culture of successive governments that have turned essential human services into profit-driven commodities thus violating their moral obligation of equity and charity,” he said.
The Executive Director of Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), Chima Williams, congratulated the union on what he described as a rancour-free election and said the outcome was consistent with the leadership style attributed to Manji.
Williams said he expected the new leadership to continue advocating for transparent, efficient and equitable public services that meet basic standards of welfare, safety and dignity.
For the Executive Director of Child Health Organisation, Lady Vicky Onyekuru, Manji’s emergence came at an important time, particularly for women and other vulnerable groups.
“The election of Comrade Manji and his team is an exciting development at this crucial time. He has been an advocate of people over profits and we anticipate he will continue to advocate against policies that disproportionately affect women and other vulnerable classes in our society,” she said.
Labour, government representatives attend conference
The 7th National Delegates Conference attracted government and labour leaders, including representatives of the governors of Kano, Bauchi and Plateau states.
Also present were the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero; the President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN); the President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT); and representatives of Public Services International (PSI).
PSI Regional Secretary, Daniel Oberko, and PSI Project Coordinator, Badru Moradeke, were among other participants at the conference.
The water justice groups said they looked forward to working with the new AUPCTRE leadership to promote access to essential public services, defend workers’ rights and sustain advocacy for public provision of water and other utilities.