CONCORD ONLINE NEWS

  Igbafen (r) with other labour leaders paying tributes to Ugboaja                                             Hendrix Oliomogbe  It was a celebration of life weekend in Benin City, Edo State as members of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) gathered at the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole state secretariat to pay glowing tributes to the deceased General Secretary of the union, Comrade Emmanuel Okechukwu Ugboaja. At a well attended special ceremony in honour of the departed labour leader, speaker after speaker lionized Comrade Ugboaja for his contributions and sacrifices towards the growth of the labour movement in Nigeria. Speaking, the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the NLC in Edo State, Prof. Monday Igbafen remarked that the occasion was an opportunity to celebrate the life and legacy of Comrade Ugboaja, as well as remember other fallen l...

.         Congratulations Evbagharu Hendrix Oliomogbe  The President of the African Public Interest Lawyers Union (APIL), Chief Adaze Andrew Emwanta has described the victory of Mr. Odus Evbagharu, a US based politician of Edo origin as a source of pride for Edo people at home and in the diaspora. Evbagharu, who ran on the Democratic Party ticket for the Texas House of Representatives, District 135 in the recent US midterm, defeated his Republican Party opponent, Liz Ramos, by a wide margin.  The winning Democratic Party politician, whose parents are Benin descendants from Edo State, Nigeria was born in  London, United Kingsport but later moved to the US for his education. His mother hails from the popular Aihie family in the Edo State capitol. With about 99% of the votes counted, the Nigerian American polled 37,727 votes, representing 67.4 per cent, against Ramos' 18,267 votes, or 32.6 per cent, a margin of about 19,500 votes. He continued: "His ...

Hendrix Oliomogbe  The organized labour in Edo State has lauded the resolution of the prolonged dispute over the recognition of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)-constituted Caretaker Committee as the legitimate representative of the congress in the state. In a joint statement weekend in Benin City by the Caretaker Committee chairman of Edo NLC, Prof. Monday Igbafen and the chairman of the state Trade Union of Congress (TUC), Comrade Joseph Wasah, they resolved to deepen cooperation and collaboration in order to strengthen the collective bargaining power of trade unions in the state.  Prof. Igbafen and Comrade Wasah described the development as a new dawn in labour relations, particularly in the industrial relationship between the state government and the two major trade union centres in the country – the NLC and (TUC). The duo further resolved to prioritize workers’ welfare and the well-being of the citizenry in its engagement with the state government. The Edo NLC chairman a...

Okiye       Hendrix Oliomogbe  The Edo State Gaming and Lottery Regulatory Commission (ESGLRC) has faulted the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Sales Promotion Regulations, 2026, which seek to confer regulatory, licensing, approval and supervisory powers over lotteries, promotional lotteries, games of chance and related gaming activities on a federal agency. In a statement in Benin City by the chairman, Hon. Frank Okiye, he said that flowing from the binding judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on 22 November, 2024, and the principles of true federalism, the FSGRN had pointedly declared these provisions a direct affront to the constitutional powers of the states. Hon. Okiye, former speaker of Edo State House of Assembly contended that at a time when Nigeria should, among other things, being consolidating the gains of constitutional federalism as championed by President Bola Tinubu, strengthening regul...

          Obeakemhe  Hendrix Oliomogbe  A group, Afemai Cultural Festival International (ACFI) has unveiled plans for a profound cultural renaissance in Abuja. Tagged, "Afemai Cultural Renaissance Day", the event which is scheduled to hold on May 29, 2027 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is being organized by ACFI in collaboration with Afemai Sons and Daughters Association, Abuja. A statement Benin City, Edo State by Mr. Sam Obeakemhe, the chief executive officer of ACFI explained that the collaboration, among others aims to awaken Afemai ancestral wisdom, elevate indigenous languages and integrate traditional Afemai – Akoko Edo, Etsako and Owan communities values with contemporary global innovations.   He said that the event will also encourage dialogue by promoting an open exchange between modern global influences and deep-rooted cultural practices without regressing into archaic customs.  Besides, Mr. Obeakeme said that it will...

Hendrix Oliomogbe  The Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared full solidarity with the state chapter of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in its ongoing strike over knotty labour issues. In a statement in Benin City on Monday, October 19, 2026 by the chairman, Caretaker Committee of Edo NLC, Prof. Monday Igbafen, he urged authorities of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to immediately return to the negotiation table  Residents of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti States have been thrown into darkness following a strike by BEDC workers over the contentious issues of harmonization of salary, implementation of national minimum wage, promotion of  workers, threat of mass sack, and other lingering labour matters. Prof. Igbafen berated authorities of the electricity company for their refusal to use the seven days window of grace after the expiration of 14 days ultimatum given by the union to resolve the contending labour is...

Pa Iduoriyekemwen         Hendrix Oliomogbe  A group, Peoples' Assembly for Good Governance (PAGG) has described the arrest and arraignment of Pa Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, the 90 year-old father of Mr. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Edo South Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections as an attempt to muzzle the opposition. The elder Iduoriyekemwen was arrested by detectives from the Edo State Police Command at about 4 am from his residence in suburban Amagba, Benin City, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. In a joint statement Monday, October 19, 2026 in Benin City by the national chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor and national secretary, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nkama, PAGG  (formerly Coalition of Registered Political Parties - CRPP) vehemently condemned what it described as intimidation of the opposition by the Edo State Government, using machinery of state. The condemnation followed the arraignment of Pa Iduoriyekemwen, th...