Affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Edo State are currently divided over the planned inauguration of a caretaker committee to oversee affairs of the union in the state.

There are fears that the NLC might snowball into a crisis following the rejection of the Committee by the Edo NLC Chairman, Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide.

The Caretaker Committee is to be headed by the Chairman of the Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Monday Igbafen.

Meanwhile, the Comrade Adams Labour House in Benin City, venue of the inauguration, has been placed under lock and key.

The Edo House of Assembly at its Tuesday plenary said Ajaero’s imposition of a leadership on the state chapter of the NLC was capable of breaching peace in the state.

It asked Ajaero to work with Comrade Eguakhide, whom the Edo workers preferred.

The Assembly passed a resolution calling on Comrade Ajaero to shelve the proposed leadership change of the NLC Exco in the state.

Majority leader, Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu, who moved the motion, said there is a harmonious labour force devoid of strife under the leadership of Comrade Eguakhide.

Acting National Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, in a statement, accused the Edo State government of trying to frustrate its efforts to inaugurate the caretaker committee.

He said the keys to the NLC secretariat have not been released to its team.

Upah said its decision was in line with labour law and global practices.

He explained that the circumstances leading to the dissolution of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress were opened.

“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.

“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.” (The Nation)