Deal Only With Legitimate Edo NLC Authority, Caretaker Committee Chairman Charges Okpebholo

Hendrix Oliomogbe                              

The Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to resist selfish, subterranean pressure that would rob the government of robust engagements and industrial relations of a legitimate leadership of NLC in the state.

Besides, the union also cautioned the general public to be wary of any group of persons masquerading as the leadership of the Edo State Council of the NLC other than the Prof. Monday Igbafen headed caretaker committee 

In a statement in Benin City, the union reiterated that the legitimate leadership of the Edo Council of the NLC is the Prof. Igbafen-led Caretaker Committee, which was legally constituted by the National Central Working Committee (CWC) of the NLC.

The statement which was signed by Prof. Igbafen himself, he maintained that the clarification had become necessary in order not to allow a continuation of deceit aimed at misinforming and misguiding the public and the state government about the true position of the leadership of the council.

He insisted that the Mr. Bernard Egwakhide-led State Administrative Council (SAC) of the NLC, which took over from the erstwhile chairman, Mr. Odion Olaye following his impeachment in 2024, had since been dissolved by the CWC, since 13th August, 2025, for unethical behaviour, anti-union activities, and gross violations of the constitution and rules of the congress. 

The caretaker committee chairman advised Governor Monday Okpebholo to respect the country's labour laws, especially in terms of the right of trade unions to conclusively decide their leadership, adding that the only legitimate authority empowered to speak on behalf of workers in the state is the Igbafen-led Caretaker Committee as recognized by the CWC of NLC.

The statement added: "The Edo NLC Caretaker Committee urges the Edo State Government and the general public to disregard any representation, information, or press release that does not have the approval of the Committee. 

The Caretaker Committee reiterates its commitment to the speedy resolution of the crisis in the Edo NLC and called for the cooperation of the Edo State Government and all stakeholders."