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 for Justice.
Amongst others, Prof. Igbafen and NLC are seeking a declaration that the caretaker committee lawfully constituted by NLC on August 11, 2025 is the only legitimate authority empowered to run the affairs of the Edo State Council of the union pending the time fresh elections are conducted.
The claimants are also seeking a declaration that the continued occupation of the council's secretariat at Teboga Road, off Ikpoba Hill, Benin City and retention of union assets, cheque books, bank mandates, vehicles, and records by the defendants is illegal, null and void.
Besides, the claimants also want an order of perpetual injunction restraining the first to fifth defendants, their agents, privies, or supporters from parading themselves as officers of Edo State Council of NLC or interfering with the functions of the claimants.
Continuing, Prof. Adekanle wants: "An order of mandatory injunction compelling the first to fifth defendants to hand over forthwith to the claimants: keys and possession of the second claimant’s Secretariat, Benin City. All vehicles belonging to Edo State Council of the second claimant. All financial records, cheque books and all other properties of the council of the second claimant in their custody.
"An order restraining the sixth to eight defendants from interfering with the internal affairs of the Edo State Council of the second claimant or obstructing the inauguration/functions of the claimants.
"An order directing the first defendant to render a full account of all monies, dues, levies and donations received, expended or otherwise handle by him on behalf of the Edo State Council of the second claimant from the date of dissolution till date of compliance with the judgment of this court."
The petitioner is also demanding a sum of N50 million being general and exemplary damages against the first to fifth defendants for unlawful usurpation of office, representation and acts prejudicial to the orderly administration of the Edo State Council of the second claimant.
He recalled that a meeting of February 27, 2025 at the National Executive Council of NLC dissolved the Edo State Council of the congress and approved the setting up of a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the council pending the conduct of elections to fill up the statutory positions.
He noted that the Edo State Council of the second claimant was dissolved for; unethical behavior, anti-union activities and gross violation of the Constitution of the congress, noting that the first defendant purportedly removed the erstwhile chairperson of the Edo State Council of NLC without reference to the congress’ leadership and in the manner unknown to the union's Constitution and installed himself as the NLC chairperson.
The claimant said that he wrote to Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Minister of Labour and Employment to inform them of the dissolution of the Edo State Council of the union and setting up of the Caretaker Committee.
He averred: "That after the constitution of the Caretaker Committee, the second claimant wrote to the first to fifth defendants and demanding handover of the second Claimant’s secretariat in Benin City, vehicles, financial records, cheque books, bank mandates, and other union property.
That the first to fifth defendants have continued to occupy the second claimant’s secretariat, hold meetings, and parade themselves as officers of the Edo State Council of the second claimant despite the dissolution. They have also issued public statements rejecting the Caretaker Committee."
He continued: That the first to fifth defendants and/or their agents have seized the keys to the Labour House,, and have prevented the claimants from accessing the premises. The sixth defendant has also publicly declared support for the dissolved exco of the Edo State Council of the second claimant.
"That they also made several efforts to engage the Governor in respect of the crisis to no avail while the Edo State Government has continued in its illegitimate patronage of the dissolved Administrative Council."
According to him, the leadership of the second claimant and the Caretaker Committee made several efforts to amicably resolve the crisis in the Edo State Council of the second claimant and that caretaker committee had on January 23, 2026 visited Senator Adams Oshiomhole and unambiguously called on him to intervene on the crisis but failed to keep his promise to intervene by engaging the governor one the matter and revert them.
No date has been fixed for hearing.
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