Comrade Joe Ajaero, national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), recently appointed a five-person caretaker committee, but the Edo State chapter of the NLC has rejected it.
State council members Comrade Bernard Egwakhide (Chairman of the Edo NLC) and Comrade Omole Osahon (Assistant Secretary) issued a statement urging the public to ignore the committee, claiming it is not legitimate.
Claiming to have arranged a caretaker arrangement, the statement accused Ajaero of trying to force Chief Odion Olaye on the Edo workforce. Workers in the state of Edo had long since rejected Olaye, according to the Edo NLC leadership.
Chief Odion Olaye, who allegedly vowed to “burn Edo” if a particular politician lost an election, is now leading the so-called caretaker committee. In the statement, it was said that they would not tolerate his continued proxy leadership of the Edo NLC.
Additionally, the Edo council voiced concerns that the decision could escalate tensions and threaten the stability of the state labour movement. Workers in the state have been able to put their differences aside and work together peacefully under the present leadership of Comrade Egwakhide, which came into power following Olaye’s ouster by the majority of affiliate unions.
In addition to mentioning Ajaero’s involvement in the formation of the United Labour Congress (ULC), the statement accused him of trying to undermine the NLC in the past and cautioned against a repetition of that in Edo State.
Let the Federal Ministry of Labour honour the freedom of the Edo workers and their unions to conduct their jobs without fear of retaliation or unreasonable interference. In addition, the statement claimed that Edo workers will fight any attempt to force Odion Olaye through the backdoor and will continue to support the Egwakhide-led council.