The leadership of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the public to disregard and therefore not give any form of legality whatsoever to the five-man caretaker committee constituted by the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero and the embattled former Chairman of the NLC in Edo State, Odion Olaye.
Comrade Bernard Joman, the Chairman of the Edo State Council of the NLC, said in a press statement that “Edo workers reject it outrightly because the so called caretaker committee is orchestrated by Chief Odion Olaye, who once threatened that ‘Edo will burn’ if a particular politician does not win an election in Edo State, as he intends to continue to lead Edo NLC Council by proxy.
“We do not only reject the committee purportedly set up by Joe Ajaero and Odion Olaye, we also view the caretaker committee as an attempt to undermine the state’s stability and to carry out Odion Olaye’s earlier threat of ‘burning down Edo state’.
“Comrade Joe Ajaero’s personal move to impose this connived contraption has further sparked controversies.
“We, the Edo workers, wish to use this medium to warn and advice Joe Ajaero and Odion Olaye to retrace their steps and leave Edo workers alone as we have been enjoying a very peaceful and friendly labour relations and working relations since Odion Olaye was removed by majority members of the affiliate unions and replaced with the Comrade Bernard Joman led executives.”
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Going further, Edo State Council of the NLC urged “Comrade Joe Ajaero and his cohorts to focus on serious issues that concerns Nigeria workers, instead of trying to impose Odion Olaye on Edo workers through the so called caretaker committee(through the back door) and that has been rejected by Edo workers.
“It is on record that the United Labour Congress (ULC) that was used to divide the NLC at a time, was a baby of Comrade Joe Ajaero. His action is again tending towards same in Edo State.”
Edo NLC also called on the Federal Ministry of Labour “to respect the rights of workers and labour unions in Edo State, ensuring that they can operate freely without fear of intimidation or persecution by the lion in Abuja.
“Let Comrade Ajaero and his cohorts know that Edo workers are ready to resist any attempt or moves by him to impose Odion Olaye on Edo workers for the second time in the name of a caretaker committee.
“As Edo workers are ready, indefatigable and solidly behind Comrade Bernard Joman led NLC council in the state.”
