Labour minister intervenes in Edo NLC crisis amid alleged govt interference

The crisis rocking the Edo State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) may soon be history as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, this weekend called on the Nigeria Labour Congress to urgently resolve the internal crisis within its Edo State Chapter to prevent further escalation of tensions.

The conflict stems from allegations by the Edo State Council of the NLC, accusing the state government of interference in union affairs, including an alleged police invasion of the union’s premises.

Dingyadi made the remarks during a meeting in Abuja with executives from both the national and Edo State chapters of the NLC with the intent to address the unfortunate situation.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC had affirmed Odion Olaye as the authentic chairman of the state, even though the state government had differed, thereby fueling an avoidable crisis.

Briefing newsmen in Benin after returning from the NEC meeting, Olaye presented copies of the resolution of the NEC held in Owerri earlier, which confirmed his position as the duly elected chairman of NLC Edo State.

Olaye, quoting from a communiqué signed by Comrade Joe Ajaero and Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, president and secretary of the NLC respectively, said NEC resolved to give the Edo State Government and the police a deadline of 14 working days, up to January 8, 2025, to vacate the secretariat premises.

The Edo NLC added that NEC strongly condemned those fueling crises in the state, particularly the invasion and ransacking of the NLC Edo State secretariat.

Olaye stated that NEC has equally asked all those who invaded the NLC Edo State secretariat to return all confiscated properties to Congress and commit to refraining from further interference in trade union activities.

Towards finding a lasting solution, a statement by the Ministry of Labour and Employment spokesperson, Patience Onuobia, noted that during the meeting, the minister appealed for mutual understanding between the two factions.

The statement partly read: “The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress to resolve its internal conflict within the Edo State chapter to prevent further escalation.

“To address the crisis, the minister today met with the national and Edo State chapter executives of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Abuja.

“He appealed for understanding between the two factions, said to be backed by the national body of the NLC, and the Edo State government, respectively.

“Dingyadi encouraged the NLC to use its internal mechanisms to settle the dispute.”

Dingyadi urged the union to employ its internal mechanisms to settle the dispute amicably.

He also announced plans to dispatch a delegation comprising national NLC leaders and senior officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment to engage the Edo State Government in finding a lasting resolution.

Speaking on the crisis, the Deputy General Secretary of the NLC, Ismail Bello, condemned what he described as the unwarranted interference by the Edo State government.

He accused the state of deploying law enforcement agencies to invade the union’s offices, harass officials, and intimidate members.

Bello called on the federal government to intervene and restrain the state government from meddling in the internal affairs of the union.