Edo NLC rejects caretaker committee constituted by Joe Ajaero
The Edo state leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected a five-man caretaker committee allegedly constituted by Joe Ajaero, national president of the union.
In a statement signed by Bernard Joman Egwakhide, Edo NLC chairman, and Omole Osahon, assistant secretary, the state executive council (SEC) and state administrative council (SAC) described the committee as “illegal” and urged the public to disregard it.
“We strongly advise the general public to disregard and therefore not give any form of legality whatsoever to the five-man caretaker committee constituted by Joe Ajaero and Odion Olaye, the former Edo NLC chairman, as Edo workers reject it outrightly,” the statement said.
The state leadership alleged that the move was orchestrated by Olaye, who they accused of previously threatening violence in the state.
“We do not only reject the committee purportedly set up by Joe Ajaero and Odion Olaye, we also view it as an attempt to undermine the state’s stability and to carry out Olaye’s earlier threat of burning down Edo state,” they added.
The statement accused Ajaero of attempting to destabilise the union in Edo, warning him and Olaye to “retrace their steps and leave Edo workers alone”.
“We have been enjoying very peaceful labour relations since Olaye was removed by majority members of the affiliate unions and replaced with the Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide-led executive,” it said.
The Edo NLC leaders further alleged that Ajaero’s action resembled his past role in the creation of the United Labour Congress (ULC), which they said once “weakened the NLC”.
They called on the federal ministry of labour to protect the rights of workers in the state and ensure that labour unions can operate freely without intimidation.
“Let Comrade Ajaero and his cohorts know that Edo workers are ready to resist any attempt to impose Odion Olaye on them for the second time in the name of a caretaker committee. Edo workers are solidly behind the Bernard Joman Egwakhide-led NLC council,” the statement said.
