CONCORD ONLINE NEWS

Hendrix Oliomogbe  The crisis rocking the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken a new dimension following a suit by the Caretaker Committee of the union against the State Administrative Council (SAC) and the state government at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Benin City, Edo State. In suit No NICN/BEN/2026 by the caretaker committee chairman, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen (for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee, he is challenging the legitimacy of the Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide led SAC.                          Joined as co-defendants in the suit filed by the lead counsel to the claimants, Prof. Bola Adekanle are: Ireotoi Kingsley; Joel Idonijie; Ese Best Idahosa; Philomena Osabuohien (for themselves and on behalf of the dissolved council); lEdo State Government; the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity; and the Attorney General & Commissioner ...

Hendrix Oliomogbe  The crisis rocking the Edo State council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken a turn for the worse as the Caretaker Committee has dragged the State Administrative Council (SAC) and the state government to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Benin over legitimacy. In suit No NICN/BEN/2026 by Prof. Bola Adekanle, the lead counsel to the claimants, the caretaker committee chairman, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen (For himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee is challenging the legitimacy of the Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide led SAC.                 Joined as co-defendants are  Ireotoi Kingsley, Joel Idonijie, Ese Best Idahosa, Philomena Osabuohien (For themselves and on behalf of the dissolved council, Edo State Government,  Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Edo State Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Edo State. Amongst others, Prof. Igbafen is seeking a ...

Hendrix Oliomogbe  The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has challenged Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to disclose the cost of construction work on Ramat Park flyover bridge, Benin City. A statement in Benin City by the national chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor after the 2nd General Meeting of the association on May 2, 2026 demanded to know the identity of the Chinese firm that was awarded the project and the time line for the completion of the bridge. Dr. Isibor queried: "What is the role of First Bank in the two projects? When were they advertised for bidding and in which national newspapers?" Besides, the chairman wants the names of the Chinese firm that were awarded the contracts to be published and which other firms bidded for the construction. Relying on the Freedom of Information Act as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Isibor said that the the organization was putting the government of Governor Okpebholo on notice tha...

Prof. Omoregie (r), Prof. Osadolor (m) and Emeritus Prof. Friday Elaho after the lecture  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The Vice-Chancellor of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Edoba Omoregie, SAN has called for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration among faculties in the university. Prof. Omoregie spoke at the  second edition of the university’s Faculty Public Lecture Series, which was hosted by the Faculty of Arts. The lecture, which was delivered by the dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Osarhieme Osadolor, a former acting vice chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, had as its theme, “Expressing the Universal Qualities of Being Human.” The vice-chancellor remarked that the humanities remain central to shaping human values, critical thinking and national development. He said that the lectures are part of the institution’s broader vision to showcase the university’s academic strengths and expose staff and students to opportunities across different disciplines. He said that t...

  Hendrix Oliomogbe  Ahead of tomorrow, May Ist Workers Day Celebration, the Edo State Caretaker Committee chairman of the Edo State chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Prof. Monday Igbafen has lamented the division within the labour union in the state. In a statement in Benin City and made available to journalists, Prof. Igbafen insisted that the current labour environment in Edo cannot and must not inspire celebration.  The unionist noted that the historic day was neither meant to celebrate the conquest of workers’ autonomy, nor mask the strangulation of independent trade unionism. He said that other state councils of the NLC across the federation may, perhaps, find reasons to roll out drums on May Day but not in Edo where the labour environment in the state cannot and must not inspire celebration. Prof. Igbafen, who is also the Benin Zonal chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) lamented that the Edo NLC is in a quagmire and locked in a strugg...

   Dr. Ogboror-Okor  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The Director General of Edo State Diaspora Agency, Dr. Loretta Oduware Ogboror-Okor has made a passionate commendation of Edo State Diaspora population over the years; lauding their resilience for survival in places far from home and their help with bearing the financial  burdens of family and friends over the years.  The DG, stated that their  economic impact on the state and country at large remains palpable. However,  she stated that in a better organized and more cohesive way, the Diaspora can do alot more. She encouraged Edo State indigenes and friends of Edo State in the diaspora to come and invest in the State known as the Heartbeat of the Nation. Dr. Ogboro-Okor, who spoke in Benin City said that the country receives an estimated $22 to 24 billion in remittances annually from Nigerians in the diaspora. The Director General said that out of this huge amount of money, Edo State, which is among the top ...

    Oba Market: Ongoing renovation work  Hendrix Oliomogbe  Like the legendary phoenix, which got burnt in the Arabian desert and was reborn from it ashes, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo is set to commission the rehabilitated and remodelled Oba Market, Benin City, almost six years after a midnight inferno totally razed down a section of it on June 22, 2020.     Before renovation  It was weeping and wailing by the pitiable traders who lost goods worth several millions of Naira on that fateful night in June of 2020. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kaseem Afegbua, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists Monday in Benin City lamented that nothing was done to repair the market when the incident happened despite several assurances and promises by then Governor Godwin Obaseki until Governor Okpebholo came on board. Marked by blown off roof, creaking staircases, blocked drainage system, heaps of refuse, gaping holes with water...