The Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the five-member caretaker committee recently constituted by the Congress’ National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
In a statement signed by Edo NLC Chairman, Comrade Bernard Egwakhide, and Assistant Secretary, Comrade Omole Osahon, the council described the committee as illegitimate and urged the public to disregard it.
The state leadership accused Ajaero of attempting to impose Chief Odion Olaye on Edo workers through what it called a contrived caretaker arrangement. It recalled that Olaye had long been rejected by unions in the state.
“The so-called caretaker committee is orchestrated by Chief Odion Olaye, who once threatened that ‘Edo will burn’ if a certain politician did not win an election. We will not allow him to continue leading the Edo NLC by proxy,” the statement read.
The Edo council argued that the move undermines the stability of the state’s labour movement and risks inflaming tensions. It stressed that the current leadership under Egwakhide was duly elected after Olaye’s removal by a majority of affiliate unions, adding that industrial relations in the state had been peaceful since then.
The statement also referenced Ajaero’s past role in forming the United Labour Congress (ULC), accusing him of previously attempting to weaken the NLC and warning against a repeat scenario in Edo.
“We call on the Federal Ministry of Labour to respect the rights of Edo workers and unions to operate freely, without intimidation or undue interference. Edo workers remain strongly behind the Egwakhide-led council and are prepared to resist any attempt to impose Odion Olaye through the backdoor,” it concluded.
