Crisis rocks Edo NLC as Police seal off secretariat

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday in Benin sealed off the Edo State Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), otherwise known as the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House, as suspected thugs were seen loitering around the secretariat.

Also, the main gate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ugbowo Campus, was heavily guarded by police personnel, while an armoured personnel carrier was deployed to the state’s NLC secretariat.

The heavy security presence at the Labour House and the UNIBEN main gate was aimed at preventing the inauguration of the Caretaker Committee of the Edo NLC.

It was gathered that NLC leaders had initially assembled at the UNIBEN ASUU Secretariat, Ugbowo Campus, for the inauguration, but called it off due to security reports.

Following the development, the inauguration was eventually held at another venue in the Edo State capital, where Prof. Monday Igbafen was successfully sworn in amid cheers.

Angered by the development, police operatives sealed off the state secretariat of the NLC.

Some NLC leaders from neighbouring states who were scheduled to attend the inauguration at the Labour House expressed regret that they could not gain access to the secretariat.

Comrade Augustine Igben of the Maritime Workers Union said he was embarrassed when he was denied entry into the Edo Labour House.

“I felt embarrassed about the whole thing. How can the police barricade the Labour House when there is no war? It is a labour issue. They should allow labour to settle the issues themselves.

“I was not allowed entry. Where am I going to pass through? There were lots of security operatives. I saw some civilians mixed up with them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Comrade Bernard Joman Eguekhide of the Edo NLC has rejected the Comrade Joe Ajaero-led Caretaker Committee headed by Prof. Igbafen.

Addressing journalists at the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House in Benin, the factional acting chairman of the Edo NLC, Comrade Eguekhide, said that the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, should allow the state chapter to conduct a by-election to fill the vacant positions rather than appointing someone from ASUU as Caretaker Committee Chairman.

“I don’t think any Caretaker Committee is needed at this point in time, because in the high-ranking unions from number one to number 18 in Nigeria, they are all in support of our Exco.

“The person he brought as Caretaker Committee Chairman, the ASUU person, has never for one day attended our meetings. I wonder who he is going to invite when he has never participated in NLC meetings here before.

“The other unions are all small unions, and he went to pick him in order to destabilise the NLC. He told us that if he wanted to destabilise the Edo State chapter of the NLC, he could use external forces to destabilise the state’s workforce.

“When he appointed those Caretaker Committee members, with three from the private sector and only two from the public sector, we already knew he was up to something. That is why the workers of Edo State decided to come together and take our own decision that we remain united as a team and will not accept a Caretaker Committee.

“If you feel that something needs to be done, I think the best thing at this point is to call for a by-election. Then whoever is interested can obtain forms and contest. That way we will know the person is duly elected to the office of chairman and other vacant positions,” he said.

Comrade Eguekhide accused the NLC President of attempting to impose Comrade Odion Olaye on them, adding that such an act would be resisted as Edo workers are capable of making their own decisions on who will lead the union in the state.

“We, the workers of Edo State, have said repeatedly that nobody can force leadership on us.

“Outside political statements, we believe Odion Olaye has done more damage to the NLC in Edo than even those who once said Edo would burn. It was on that basis that the Congress decided to impeach him.

“My question, which I continue to ask, is: in the NLC constitution, is there room for impeachment? If there is, then Edo workers, the Congress and the SEC of Edo have decided to impeach Odion Olaye as chairman of the NLC.

“I don’t understand why the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress still wants to impose on us the same person we have collectively agreed, as adults, that we don’t want.

“Today, we are all here at the NLC secretariat, in our office, as we are every working day.

“The issue on ground has no external interference; it is simply that Comrade Joe Ajaero wants to force Edo workers to accept a leader we have rejected, and that is the matter we are dealing with,” Eguekhide said.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE