Edo govt, NLC headed for clash over caretaker committee

A fresh crisis is brewing between the Edo State Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as both sides prepare for a showdown over the planned inauguration of a caretaker committee in the state.

The Edo House of Assembly on Tuesday accused NLC President, Joe Ajaero, of imposing leadership on the state chapter, warning that the move could threaten peace in the state.

Lawmakers backed Bernard Eguakhide, insisting workers in Edo were more comfortable with him, while accusing Ajaero of trying to impose loyalists of former chairman Odion Olaye, whom they linked to partisan politics in the last governorship election.

The assembly urged the national leadership to shelve its plan and avoid “breaching the peace.”

But the NLC fired back in a statement signed by Acting National Secretary, Benson Upah, alleging that the state government had seized the keys to the NLC secretariat in Benin and issued threats to members of its caretaker team ahead of Thursday’s inauguration.

The union maintained that its action was lawful and consistent with labour practices, adding that the government was trying to frustrate the process.

The standoff is expected to come to a head on Thursday when the caretaker committee is scheduled to be inaugurated in Benin City.