Edo House of Assembly warns against inauguration of NLC caretaker committee

The Edo State House of Assembly has urged the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, to halt the proposed inauguration of a caretaker committee for the state chapter of the union.

DAILY POST reports that the House also called on the national leadership of the NLC to shelve the planned inauguration of the caretaker committee in the interest of peace and harmonious relations.

The appeal was made during plenary on Tuesday while adopting a consequential motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbokhan (APC, Esan West Constituency), and seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Atu Osamwonyi (APC, Orhionmwon I).

Ibhamawu warned that a change of leadership in the state chapter of the union could trigger labour unrest.

He further cautioned that if the National President of the NLC failed to stop the inauguration of the caretaker committee scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025, the state risked being thrown into an industrial crisis.

According to him, the proposed leadership change in the Edo chapter of the NLC should be suspended in the interest of peace and stability.

“The present leadership of NLC under Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide should be allowed to function until the end of the tenure of the present Exco.

“The Edo State government should continue to recognise the leadership of the present chairman of the union in the state,” he submitted.

He stressed that the only recognised leadership of the union in the state is the one headed by Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide.

Other lawmakers who supported the motion included Hon. Addeh Isibor, Deputy Majority Leader (Esan North-East I), and Hon. Andrew Edobor Uzamere (Ovia North-East II).

In his remarks at the end of the debate, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku urged the state government to recognise only the Exco led by Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide.

Agbebaku cautioned those parading themselves as members of the caretaker committee to resist attempts to destabilise the state.

“I want to appeal to the national President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, to let peace reign in Edo State.

“I also want to appeal to those fellows he is using to destabilise Edo State to please desist from being used as tools to destabilise the State.

“We have been enjoying relative peace and harmony in terms of industrial relations in the state.

“The recognised Exco of the union in the state is the one led by Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide. Any other persons parading themselves are doing so contrary to the laws and the rules.

“Those fellows he has chosen to parade themselves as the Exco of NLC in the state, I want to appeal to them to desist from it.

“I further want to appeal to our members that if you know any of those people that want to parade themselves to cause chaos, please call them to order that they should not be used.

“By the time we call them to order and they refuse to adhere to it we will call the necessary security agencies to do the needful.

“In addition, I want to appeal to the state government not to recognise those parading themselves as the caretaker committee Exco in the state.

“The real and the only Exco to be recognised by the government is the one led by Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide. Any other Exco apart from him are saboteurs and they should be treated as such,” he added.

DAILY POST further reports that the Acting General Secretary of the union, Comrade Benson Upah, had on Monday in a statement fixed August 28, 2025, for the inauguration of the caretaker committee for the Edo State chapter.

According to the statement, the inauguration is scheduled to take place at the Labour House, Benin City.

Upah explained that the move followed the formal dissolution of the Edo State Administrative Council of the NLC and the constitution of a caretaker committee to oversee its affairs pending fresh elections.

He noted that the decision was taken at the Central Working Committee meeting of the union on August 13, 2025, which considered the inauguration of the caretaker committee imperative.

“The presence of your Union at the inauguration is requested. Congress therefore formally requests that you direct your leaders and members in the Edo State Council to attend accordingly to send a clear message to our social partners of our intention to continue protecting the rights of workers in Edo State,” he stated.

Edo House of Assembly warns against inauguration of NLC caretaker committee