Leadership crisis hits Edo NLC amid alleged state-sponsored invasion
Leaders of the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress have differed over allegations that the state government forcefully broke into and ransacked the Labour House, the union’s headquarters in Benin.
The dispute pits the acting Chairman of the NLC, Jorman Egwekhide, and acting Secretary, Kingsley Ireotoi, against ousted Chairman Odion Olaye, an ally of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Olaye claims he remains the legitimate leader of the union.
In a statement jointly signed by Egwekhide and Ireotoi, the acting leaders dismissed the claims of a forced invasion as “false, misleading, and baseless.”
They insisted that” The Edo State government did not forcefully break into or ransack the Labour House.”
“The police officers seen in a video shared by Comrade Odion Olaye were stationed at the premises upon the request of the congress leadership to safeguard the building and its properties.
“The Edo State government has never engaged in acts of vandalism or intimidation against labour unions or their properties. Such allegations are intended to tarnish the government’s image and incite unnecessary discord between it and labour unions,” Egwekhide and Ireotoi said.
But reacting to them, Olaye dismissed Egwekhide’s authority to speak on behalf of the state NLC, insisting he remained the authentic chairman of the union.
“Jorman Egwekhide is not a leader and cannot claim to be one in the NLC. The NLC is a constituted body, and no one can assume leadership simply because there is a change in government,” Olaye stated.
He continued, “I was elected as the Edo State NLC chairman on March 7, 2023, for a four-year tenure that runs until March 6, 2027. I remain the legitimate chairman. Jordan is playing politics with himself, claiming to lead because the government has changed. He was never elected.”
The NLC national secretariat has escalated the matter, petitioning Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged invasion and confiscation of property at the Labour House.
In separate letters signed by the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union referred to a communiqué issued during its National Executive Council meeting on December 18, 2024, in Owerri, Imo State.
The communiqué demanded the police vacate the premises and return all seized property by January 8, 2025, to prevent a confrontation with organised labour.
