PRESS RELEASE
26TH OF AUGUST, 2025
WE SHALL HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE
We at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are worried by multiple credible reports of plans by the Edo state Government to disrupt the inauguration of the Caretaker Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Benin City on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
The circumstances leading to the dissolution of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress have been very much in the open. They were preceded by efforts by a joint committee comprising leading lights from the Congress and the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment; Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
The Committee met with the Governor of Edo State who did not hide his reluctance to work with the administration of Odion Olaye the democratically elected Council Chairperson before the government-backed forces led by Bernard Jormah illegally removed him.
Congress after going to great lengths to reconcile the two groups in the interest of workers in the state to no avail, was left with no option than to dissolve the entire council in line with the provisions of the constitution of the Congress.
Congress followed up by putting in place a caretaker committee to hold forth until an election is held in line with the constitution of the Congress.
However, since the constitution of the caretaker committee, the government-backed group has threatened fire and brimstone in contravention of ILO instruments and the corpus of Labour Law that operations of trade unions should not be interfered with by government or employers.
With the inauguration of the caretaker committee scheduled for Thursday, August, 28, 2025 in Benin City to which the government was invited, the key to the NLC Secretariat in Benin City has not only been seized by government, threats have been issued to members of the caretaker committee and those assigned by Congress to inaugurate them.
We are dismayed by the hostile behaviour of the governor and want to state unambiguously that we shall personally hold him responsible if any of the caretaker committee members or those assigned to inaugurate them come to harm.
We equally by this statement publicly wish to inform the police and the DSS of the sinister motives and plans of the governor of Edo State.
We want to state that the conduct of the governor is a huge discredit to the illustrious history of labour associated with the great people of Edo State. It is no secret that Edo State produced the great Pa Imoudu, Labour Leader No. 1 and the irrepressible Adams Oshiomhole and a host of others in and outside labour circles.
Edo State in modern times starting with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has led the pack of other states in paying the best wages across the country without pressure.
We are therefore at a loss where this governor is coming from. We therefore advise him to steer clear of internal labour governance as there is more than enough for him to do in the state.
We do not take instructions from him. A word is enough for the wise.
Benson Upah
Acting General Secretary