Edo NLC Writes Police, DSS, Warns of Breakdown of Law, Order Over Illegal International Women's Day Celebration

Hendrix Oliomogbe 

The Prof. Louis Igbafen headed Caretaker Committee of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised alarm over the continued illegal activities of the Osabuohien Itohan Philomena headed Women’s Committee/Wing of the state Clcouncil of NLC.

In a letter to the different chairmen/secretaries of affiliate unions of Edo NLC dated March 23, 2026 and titled Re: Commemoration of 2026 International Women's Day Celebration, Prof. Igbafen noted that the Women’s Committee/Wing of the State Council of NLC was affected following the dissolution of the erstwhile State Administrative Council (SAC) of the NLC in the state by the National Central Working Committee (CWC) of NLC on 13th August, 2025.

He added that a Caretaker Committee, which he currently heads was constituted by the CWC to manage the affairs of the state council pending election.

He charged that Ms. Osabuohien has continued playing the role of the chairperson of the Women’s Committee/Wing without authorization and approval by the legitimate leadership of the Edo State Council of NLC (the Caretaker Committee) as recognized by the National body of NLC and its CWC.

The Edo NLC Caretaker Committee chairman further accused the female unionist of issuing memoranda without authorization to members of affiliate unions of NLC and extorting unsuspecting members of affiliate unions, especially women, through a purported sale of Ankara (cloth) for the 2026 International Women’s Day Celebration under the guise of the Women’s Committee of the State NLC.

Prof. Igbafen added: "n her latest memorandum sent to all SAC and SEC members as well as all state chairpersons/secretaries, she has fixed an NLC-driven women’s day celebration for Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th March, 2026, at the Labour House, Benin City.

"We view this act, action and activities of Osabuohien Itohan Philomena as provocative, vexatious, anti-congress, anti-constituted authority, and illegitimate, wrapped with fraudulent intent."

The letter, a copy of which was sent to the Edo State Police and the Department of State Security (DSS), warned that the action of the women unionists, if not curtailed by these security agencies, could result in breach of public peace and order in the state.