The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has inaugurated Prof. Monday Igbafen as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Edo State Council despite resistance from the state House of Assembly.

This particular faction is supported by the President of the NLC,  Joe Ajero, while the Edo State government is in support of the Bernard Joman Egwakhide-led faction.

The swearing-in was initially scheduled to be held at the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House in Benin City yesterday, but the venue was locked and secured, apparently in a bid to block the event from holding. 

This came two days after the state House of Assembly passed a resolution urging the NLC to suspend the inauguration and recognise Egwakhide as the rightful leader of the union in Edo.

More so, the NLC delegation from the national secretariat, led by Oluwole Adeleye Sunday, pressed on with their plans. The group initially moved to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Secretariat within the Ugbowo campus of the University of Benin, but relocated after information about that location leaked. 

The inauguration was eventually conducted at an undisclosed venue under tight security. Speaking during the ceremony, Oluwole charged the newly constituted faction to restore unity within the state chapter of NLC. 

“You are to resolve all contending issues and work towards electing new executives,” he said. In his acceptance remarks, Prof. Igbafen pledged to mend divisions within the labour union, assuring stakeholders of a renewed focus on solidarity and internal cohesion.

At the NLC Secretariat, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force sealed off the Edo State Secretariat of NLC, otherwise known as the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House.

Similarly, the main gate of the University of Benin was beefed up with police personnel.