Despite resistance from the Edo State House of Assembly and a last-minute change of venue, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday inaugurated Professor Monday Igbafen as the new Caretaker Committee Chairman to oversee affairs
The faction is supported by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress , Comrade Joe Ajero, while the Edo State government is in support of the Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide led faction.
The swearing in of Prof. Igafen led faction was initially slated to ake place at the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House in Benin City. However, the venue was locked and secured, apparently in a bid to block the event from going ahead.
This came two days after the state legislature passed a resolution urging the NLC to suspend the inauguration and instead on recognizing Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide as the rightful leader of the union in Edo.
Undeterred, the NLC delegation from the national secretariat, led by Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday, pressed on with their plans. The group initially moved to the ASUU Secretariat within the Ugbowo campus of the University of Benin. However, after information about that location was leaked, the team quickly relocated once again. The inauguration was eventually conducted at an undisclosed venue under heightened security.
Speaking during the ceremony, Comrade Oluwole charged the newly constituted faction with the responsibility of restoring unitywithin the state chapter. “You are to resolve all contending issues and work towards electing new executives,” he said.
In his acceptance remarks, Professor Igbafen pledged to mend divisions within the Edo NLC, assuring stakeholders of a renewed focus on solidarity and internal cohesion.
At NLC Secretariat, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force sealed off the Edo State secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress otherwise known as the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House.
Similarly, the main gate of the University of Benin was beefed up with police personnel.
Some suspected thugs were also seen loitering around the secretariat.
A police armoured personnel carrier was deployed to the secretariat
While heavy security at the Labour House and the UNIBEN main gate were.
New Telegraph gathered that NLC leaders had gathered at the UNIBEN ASUU Secretariat for the inauguration but put it off due to security report.
Some NLC leaders from neighbouring states, who were scheduled to attend the inauguration, at the Labour House, expressed regret that they could not access the secretariat.
Comrade Augustine Igben from the
Maritime Workers Union said he was embarrassed when he was not allowed entry into the Edo Labour House.
“I felt embarrassed about tbe whole thing. How can the police barricade the Labour House when there is no war. It is Labour issue. They should allow Labour settle the issues themselves.” He said
