Edo NLC Crisis Deepens as Caretaker Committee Member Quits Amid Factional Tussle
Edo NLC Crisis Deepens as Caretaker Committee Member Quits Amid Factional Tussle
The leadership crisis rocking the Edo State Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has worsened following the resignation of a key member of the caretaker committee, Comrade Mike Ochei.
Ochei, who also serves as the Edo State chairman of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, announced his resignation on Sunday, throwing fresh uncertainty into the already tense situation.
The embattled caretaker committee, headed by Prof. Monday Igbafen, was inaugurated on August 28 by the national leadership of the NLC after it dissolved the Bernard Egwakhide-led executive council.
The move was met with stiff opposition from Egwakhide and his supporters, who insist that his leadership remains legitimate.
The crisis took another dimension when the Edo State House of Assembly intervened, passing a resolution urging the national NLC to suspend the caretaker committee’s inauguration and recognise Egwakhide’s leadership instead. Despite this, the national leadership pressed ahead with the dissolution, further fuelling the standoff.
Ochei’s resignation is widely seen as a blow to the caretaker committee, which has struggled to assert its authority amid resistance from the rival faction.
Political observers say his exit could embolden Egwakhide’s camp, which is believed to enjoy the backing of the Edo State Government.
Workers in the state are now caught in the middle of the leadership tussle, raising fears that the prolonged dispute could paralyse labour activities in Edo.
As at press time, neither the national NLC leadership nor the Edo State Government had issued an official reaction to Ochei’s resignation.
However, sources within the labour movement hinted that efforts are ongoing to prevent the crisis from escalating further.
The Edo NLC impasse highlights the broader challenges facing organised labour in Nigeria, where internal wrangling, political interference, and leadership struggles continue to undermine collective bargaining and workers’ welfare.
