Edo NLC Caretaker Committee Strategizes on Repositioning State Council As National Leadership Freezes Accounts

Hendrix Oliomogbe 

Buoyed by the recent appointment by the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), members of the  Caretaker Committee of the Edo State Council of the NLC are presently strategizing on repositioning the state council of the union for robust defence of the welfare and rights of all workers in the state.

Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen, the Benin Zonal Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was last week, August 15, 2025 appointed as the chairman of the five man Caretaker Committee following the dissolution of the ertwhile exco.

Several attempts to speak with Prof. Igbafen proved futile as his mobile lines were serially engaged but a close source confirmed that the committee is busy, working out ways to better the lots of Edo workers.

Determined to further enforce the dissolution of the former leadership of Edo State Council of NLC, the national leadership has frozen its bank accounts.

The appointment of Prof. Igbafen of the Department of Philosophy, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, was contained in a letter dated 15th of August, 2025 and signed by Comrade Benson Upah, the Acting General Secretary of the NLC.

Titled "Letter of Appointment", Comrade Upah said that following the dissolution of the Administrative Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State Council, the national leadership of the Congress, in line with the provisions of the NLC Constitution, has constituted a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Council pending the conduct of elections to fill the statutory positions.

The letter read in part: "I am pleased to inform you that you have been appointed as a member of this Caretaker Committee and to act as its chairman. Your appointment takes immediate effect and will subsist until a duly elected State Administrative Council is inaugurated.

In his discharge of his duties, Comrade Upah mandated the Caretaker committee chairman to among other things uphold, defend, and give full expression to the provisions of the constitution of the NLC; protect and promote the values, principles, and traditions of the Congress at all times and conduct the affairs of the Council with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

He urged the new caretaker committee chairman to work collectively with other members of the committee to ensure industrial harmony and effective service to the union affiliates and members in Edo State.

Comrade Upah  added: "The national leadership of the NLC counts on your dedication, discipline, and loyalty to the ideals of the labour movement. We trust that you will bring your experience, commitment, and sense of responsibility to bear in this important assignment."

In a separate letter by Comrade Upah and addressed to all the managers of one of the old generation banks, he said that consequent upon the dissolution, all accounts operated by or on behalf of the NLC Edo State Council are hereby frozen with immediate effect.

The acting scribe warned that any bank or financial institution which disregards this directive and transacts with unauthorized persons or entities does so at its own risk and shall be held liable for any resulting financial or legal consequences.

He wrote: "It is therefore important that you cease and desist from honoring any financial transactions, withdrawals, or instructions purporting to originate from the dissolved NLC Edo State Council or its erstwhile officials.

"You recognize only directives duly issued by the NLC national headquarters regarding any operations on NLC Edo State accounts until further notice."