Aremu will be buried on Thursday, October 23, 2025, according to his family.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have expressed deep sorrow over the sudden death of veteran pro-labour activist, Comrade Abiodun ‘Aremson’ Aremu.
Aremu will be buried on Thursday, October 23, 2025, according to his family.
The 65-year-old pro-labour activist died on Sunday, October 12, 2025, after he was hit by a hit-and-run driver near his residence in Ota, Ogun State, around 6 p.m.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead after efforts to resuscitate him failed.
In a statement issued on Monday by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC described Aremu’s death as a “tragic and untimely” loss to the Nigerian working class and the global progressive movement.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the entire spectrum of the progressive Civil Society in Nigeria are plunged into deep grief and shattering sorrow by the tragic and untimely death of our comrade, teacher, and steadfast General, Comrade Abiodun ‘Aremson’ Aremu,” Ajaero stated.
Ajaero hailed Aremu as “a titan of the class struggle, an organic intellectual of the working people, and an unwavering internationalist.”
According to Ajaero, Aremu’s life exemplified a seamless fusion of revolutionary theory and praxis dedicated to “the emancipation of the working class and the construction of an egalitarian, socialist society.”
The NLC President highlighted Aremu’s instrumental role in founding several pro-labour platforms, including the Labour Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) and the Joint Action Front (JAF), describing him as a true workers’ General who never wavered, never compromised, and never retreated.
Ajaero said, “Comrade Aremu was no ordinary man; he was a titan of the class struggle, an organic intellectual of the working people, and an unwavering internationalist whose life was a testament to unalloyed commitment to the cause of the oppressed.
“His entire political life was a seamless fusion of revolutionary theory and concrete praxis, dedicated to the emancipation of the working class and the construction of an egalitarian, socialist society.
“As a key architect of the Labour Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) and other vital platforms such as Joint Action Front (JAF), Comrade Aremu played an indispensable role in forging the unity between the organised working class and the broader popular masses.
“He understood that the chains of the Nigerian people could only be broken through a united front against the exploitative capitalist system.
“He was a true workers' General who never wavered, never compromised, and never retreated.”
The NLC raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death, describing the incident as suspicious, and demanded a full investigation.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress demands an immediate, transparent, and thorough investigation by the Federal and State Governments into this heinous act. We cannot, and will not, accept this as a mere accident,” he said.
Ajaero called on Nigerians to honour Aremu’s legacy through continued struggle, announcing plans for a mass funeral gathering in Ifo on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
He said, “As we mourn this colossal loss, we call on all comrades, allies, and all Nigerians who yearn for a better world to converge on Ifo, Ogun State, on Thursday, the 23rd of October, to collectively give our beloved General a befitting, ideological burial.
“The greatest tribute we can pay to this fearless teacher is to immortalise him not just in tears, but in action.
Similarly, the TUC, in a statement signed by its President General, Comrade Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, Comrade N. A. Toro, mourned Aremu as a towering figure in the struggle for social justice, human rights, and the liberation of the working people.
“Comrade Aremu was not only a committed activist but a steadfast voice for the voiceless, a defender of the downtrodden, the oppressed, and all those whose dignity was trampled upon by social and economic injustice,” the TUC stated.
“Throughout his life, he remained unwavering in his belief in a fair, just, and equitable society, and he gave his time, intellect, and energy to the pursuit of that noble vision.”
Describing his death as “an irreparable loss to the entire Nigerian labour movement and all progressive forces across the globe,” the TUC urged activists to draw inspiration from his life of courage and conviction.
“On behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) and the entire membership of the Congress, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, compatriots, and comrades-in-struggle,” the statement added.
“May you find comfort in the enduring legacy he has left behind, a legacy of courage, conviction, and unflinching dedication to the cause of the people.
“We pray that Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest and gives all of us the fortitude to bear this monumental loss. Farewell, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, your struggle lives on.”