Dare Babalola
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has gone ahead to inaugurate a caretaker committee for its Edo State chapter, despite appeals from the Edo State House of Assembly to suspend the process.
The ceremony, which was initially scheduled to hold at the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House, was moved to a new venue after reports of heavy security presence at the Labour House and the University of Benin’s gate.
Professor Monday Igbafen was sworn in as the chairman of the caretaker committee by NLC national officials led by Oluwole Sunday.
Igbafen was charged to resolve internal disputes and ensure the election of substantive executives. In his remarks, he pledged to work towards uniting all factions within the Edo NLC.
The inauguration was met with mixed reactions, with some labour leaders and union members expressing reservations about the process. Augustine Igben of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria lamented that he was denied entry into the Labour House, questioning why security agencies were involved in a labour matter.
“I was not allowed entry. There was a lot of security at the Labour House. This is a labour matter, and I believe the issues can be resolved internally,” he said.
The Edo State House of Assembly had on Tuesday passed a resolution asking the NLC to suspend the planned inauguration and continue working with the interim leadership headed by Bernard Joman Egwakhide.
However, the NLC national leadership went ahead with the inauguration, citing its constitutional mandate. The development has sparked concerns about the internal wrangling within the Edo NLC and the role of security agencies in labour matters.
