A new twist was introduced to the crisis rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday when the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) described the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the congress as “illegal and a rogue union.”

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Olusegun Oshinowo, Director General of NECA, said the Joe Ajaero-led faction of NLC was not recognised by and therefore, has no right to exist and speak on behalf of Nigerian workers.

Reacting to Ajaero’s comment on the recent agreement the association reached with the Ayuba Wabba NLC on how to restore harmony to industrial relations in the banking sector, Oshinowo said that Ajaero had no right to speak on the matter since “he has no existence under the law to represent workers.”

The NECA director general said that the association met the leadership of the Wabba and reached an agreement on how to improve industrial relations and bring peace to the banking sector.

He described as unfortunate Ajaero’s rejection of the agreement and his threat to picket offices of some bank over the allegation that they had retrenched staff without following due process and the law.

The director general of NECA described Ajaero’s comment on the agreement and plan to picket some banks as a threat to industrial harmony in the banking sector and the Nigerian economy at large.

He called on National Industrial Court to accelerate the process of determining the legitimate leaders of the NLC in order not to threaten industrial peace in the county.

Oshinowo also called on the police authorities to stop the Ajaero’s faction from acting as a labour centre, adding that failing to do so was a threat to industrial peace in the country.

•Sourced from Independent. Photo shows Joe Ajaero.