The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has cautioned the Edo State Government over an attempt to disrupt the inauguration of the congress’s caretaker committee today (Thursday) in Benin City.
Planning to hold the governor, Monday Okpebholo, responsible if there are unruly disruptions during the inauguration, the NLC alleged that already, the key to the NLC secretariat in Benin City has not only been seized by the government, but threats have been issued to members of the caretaker committee and those assigned by Congress to perform the exercise.
Acting General Secretary, NLC, Benson Upah, in a statement, advised the Governor to steer clear of internal labour governance, stating that there was more than enough for him to do in the state.
Upah said the NLC was dismayed by the hostile behaviour of the governor, “and want to state unambiguously that we shall personally hold him responsible if any of the caretaker committee members or those assigned to inaugurate them come to harm.”
Stating that the circumstances leading to the dissolution of the Edo State Council of the NLC are already in the open, he said they were preceded by efforts by a joint committee comprising the Congress and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
The Committee met with the Governor of Edo State, who did not hide his reluctance to work with the administration of Odion Olaye, the democratically elected Council Chairperson, before the government-backed forces led by Bernard Jormah illegally removed him.
“Congress, after going to great lengths to reconcile the two groups in the interest of workers in the state, to no avail, was left with no option but to dissolve the entire council in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Congress.
“Congress followed up by putting in place a caretaker committee to hold forth until an election is held in line with the constitution of the Congress.
“However, since the constitution of the caretaker committee, the government-backed group has threatened fire and brimstone in contravention of ILO instruments and the corpus of Labour Law that operations of trade unions should not be interfered with by government or employers,” he said.
Congress faulted the conduct of the governor, stating that it was a huge discredit to the illustrious history of labour associated with the great people of Edo.
“It is no secret that Edo State produced the great Pa Imoudu, Labour Leader No. 1 and the irrepressible Adams Oshiomhole and a host of others in and outside labour circles,” Upah stated.
