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From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Confusion, yesterday, trailed the inauguration of a caretaker committee for the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which was scheduled to hold at the secretariat of the Congress in Benin.
Following the State Government earlier warning to the national body of the NLC not to carry out the inauguration, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force moved in and sealed off the state secretariat of the Congress otherwise known as Adams Oshiomhole Labour House.
Similarly, security at the main gate of the University of Benin was beefed up with police personnel after information leaked that the inauguration had been arranged to hold at the institution.
Some suspected thugs were also seen loitering around the secretariat, just as a police armoured personnel carrier was deployed to the secretariat.
The heavy security at the Labour House and the UNIBEN main gate was to bar the inauguration.
But the inauguration was held at another venue in Benin City and Prof. Monday Igbafen, lecturer at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma was sworn in.
Some NLC leaders from neighbouring states, who were scheduled to attend the inauguration, at the Labour House, expressed regret that they could not access the secretariat.
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Augustine Igben from the Maritime Workers Union (MYN) said he was embarrassed when he was not allowed entry into the Edo Labour House.
“How can the police barricade the Labour House when there is no war. It is a labour issue. They should allow labour settle the issues themselves.
“I was not allowed entry. Where am I going to pass through.There was heavy security. I also saw some civilians mixed up with them,” he said.
The state chapter of the NLC had been factionalised following alleged partisan posture of its erstwhile chairman, Odion Olaye, who was quoted to have said during the 2024 state governorship election that “Edo will burn if PDP loses the election.”
Consequently, the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration said it cannot work with Olaye as NLC Chairman.
Meanwhile, a faction of the union loyal to Bernard Joman Eguekhide, has rejected the Joe Ajaero-led Caretaker Committee, headed by Prof. Monday Igbafe.
Addressing journalists at the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House in Benin, Eguekhide said Ajaero should allow the Edo State chapter to conduct a by-election to fill the vacant positions rather than picking somebody from ASUU to head the union.
He accused Ajaero of trying to impose Olaye and vowed that such an act would be resisted as they are old enough to take decisions on their own as to who will lead the union in the state.
