Police Seal Edo NLC Secretariat Amid Leadership Crisis

A fresh crisis has erupted within the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) after police operatives sealed off the union’s state secretariat in Benin City on Thursday.

The building, known as the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House, was barricaded by armed officers, with an armoured personnel carrier stationed at the entrance. Witnesses also reported the presence of suspected thugs loitering around the premises.

The heavy security was deployed to stop the inauguration of a caretaker committee set up by the NLC national leadership. The swearing-in, which was initially scheduled to hold at the UNIBEN ASUU Secretariat in Ugbowo, was moved to another location in the state capital following security alerts. Prof. Monday Igbafen was eventually inaugurated as chairman of the caretaker committee amid cheers from his supporters.

Angered by the move, police officers sealed the state NLC secretariat, preventing labour leaders from other states who had come for the ceremony from gaining access. One of them, Comrade Augustine Igben of the Maritime Workers Union, described the development as embarrassing, questioning why security operatives would block the Labour House over an internal union matter.

The crisis has deepened divisions within the union. A faction led by Comrade Bernard Joman Eguekhide rejected the Joe Ajaero-led caretaker committee, insisting that Edo workers should be allowed to elect their leaders through a by-election. Eguekhide argued that appointing someone from ASUU who had never participated in NLC activities in Edo was an attempt to destabilise the state chapter.

He also accused the national president of trying to impose Comrade Odion Olaye, who had previously been impeached by the state congress, saying Edo workers had already rejected him. “Nobody can force leadership on us,” he said, stressing that the union in the state remained united in resisting external interference.

The crisis now leaves the Edo NLC divided between supporters of the caretaker committee and those insisting on an election to fill vacant positions.