By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Edo State government and the state Commissioner of Police 14 days ultimatum to vacate the secretariat of the Edo State chapter of the NLC or be prepared to face an unprecedented action from the organized labour.
The ultimatum is contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress held in Owerri, presided over by its national president, Comrade Joe Ajaero and made available to Journalists in Benin.
The communique said the brazen act of impunity included the alleged ransacking of properties and the unlawful removal of items, all in a bid to impose an illegitimate leadership on the workers.
The communique read in parts “The NEC strongly condemned the actions of the police and the governor of Edo State in orchestrating an invasion of the NLC state secretariat.
“This brazen act of impunity included the ransacking of properties and the unlawful removal of items, all in a bid to impose an illegitimate leadership on the workers.
“The NEC therefore, 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, return all confiscated properties to the Congress, and commit to refraining from further interference in trade union activities.
“Failure to comply will compel the Congress to initiate unprecedented measures in defense of workers’ and trade union rights”.
Speaking also on the issues, the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Odion Olaye, alleged that he has the evidence that his secretariat was invaded.
He said the purpose of the invasion was to oust him out of the office as the chairman of the Edo State NLC.
Comrade Olaye said he is still the chairman of NLC in the state, pointing out that he has more years to direct the affairs of the union in the state.
“I was elected on 7th March, 2023 and my first tenure will be elapsing on 6th March 2027. NLC is an organized body.
“It is a body with a recognized authority. You can’t just come from nowhere and said you are now the chairman of the union when you are not elected”, Olaye said.
Olaye said he has made an official complain to the national leadership of the NLC and other affiliate bodies and they have warned those trying to cause crisis and take over power through the back door to desist from it forthwith.
