Crisis rocks Edo NLC as two factions lay claim to state leadership

The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC Edo State chapter today threw into crisis as two warring factions claimed as the authentic executive members in the state.

Addressing newsmen in his office at the state secretariat in Benin City, Interim Committee Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Edo State, Comrade Bernard Egwuaghide, insisted that he remains the union’s leader in the state.

Bernar, while accusing the president of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, of being biased and also the brain behind the crisis rocking the state chapter, said he remained the authentic chairman in the state and has no knowledge of any caretaker committee inauguration.

According to him, “From the directive and the letter sent by the National secretary, it stated that they are coming to inaugurate a committee…We have been here since morning. Other workers have been here.
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‎”We have not seen anybody who comes into this place to inaugurate any committee. So, we feel that there is nothing tas happen again.
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“In all, I Comrade Bernard Egwuakhide remain the authentic chairman of Edo NLC.” He said.
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Earlier, the Zonal Coordinator of the Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Monday Igbafen, was sworn in as the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Edo State Chapter.

Prof Igbafen, Zonal Coordinator of the Zone, which is made up of nine universities in Edo, Delta and Ondo states, emerged after the infighting between factions loyal to the Edo State government and the national leadership of the NLC.

It was gathered that NLC leaders had gathered at the UNIBEN ASUU Secretariat, Ugbowo campus, for the inauguration, but put it off due to a security report.

Following the development, the inauguration, however, was held at another venue in Benin, the Edo State capital and Prof. Monday Igbafen was successfully sworn-in amid cheers.

Peeved by the development, police operatives sealed off the Edo State secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), otherwise known as the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House, just as the main gate of the University of Benin was beefed up with police personnel.

There was a heavy security presence at the Labour House and the UNIBEN main gate, apparently to bar the inauguration of the Caretaker Committee of the Edo NLC.