By Francis Onoiribholo

Copyright independent

Francis Onoiribholo

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has initiated disciplinary action against those he described as “errant members of the affiliate unions in the Edo state council”, especially those who collaborate actively with others to put the state Secretariat of the Congress under lock and key.

This brazen act, according to the NLC president, is a direct and contemptuous defiance of the explicit decisions anddirectives of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the NLC emanating from its meetingof 13th August, 2025.

In five separate letters, all dated September 2, 2025 and addressed to the presidents of the affiliate unions of the erring members, Comrade Ajaero demanded their immediate suspension from union activities.

He frowned at what he insisted as the continuing act of supreme treachery and insurrection by the five chairmen of the state branches of the unions in Edo State.

He listed the affiliate unions as the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Civil Service Union (NCSU) and National Union of Public Service Reportorial And Secretarial Workers of Nigeria (NUPSRAW)

Titled “Act of Gross Misconduct, Betrayal and Urgent Demand For Disciplinary Action Against Your Errant Officer in Edo State”, the letter accused the acting state chairman of NLC, Comrade Bernard Eguakhide of AUPCTRE; Bernard Ajobiewe of NUT; Ogbeide Osagie of MHWUN; Kingsley Ireotoi of NUPSRAW; and; Comrade Godwin Oisamaiye of the Joint Service Negotiating Council (JNC) of direct and contemptuous defiance of the explicit decisions and directives of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the NLC emanating from its meeting of August 13, 2025.

He pointedly accused the erring officials of working actively with others to put the state secretariat of NLC named after former President of NLC, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, under lock and key.

He averred that the letters served as formal queries to the unions as the officers who perpetrated the acts are not just members of their unions but were sponsored by them to contest for offices in the congress.

The NLC president called on the various presidents to compel their state chairmen to immediately and unconditionally return all keys of the NLC state secretariat to the duly recognized State Administrative Committee (SAC) or officials designated by the national secretariat.

Besides, Comrade Ajaero tasked them: to initiate immediate and severe disciplinary proceedings against the state officials in line with their union’s constitution and the broader principles of the NLC, adding:

“This must include their immediate suspension from all union activities pending the outcome of a disciplinary committee.”

“Your unions’ silence in the face of these provocations may be construed in bad light. We demand immediate action on the receipt of these letters to acknowledge these demands and keep us informed of the steps you have taken in this direction.”

Recalled that a new caretaker committee for the Edo State branch of the NLC was inaugurated on August 28, 2025 to pioneer the affairs of the council in the state following the dissolution of the executive council by Comrade Ajaero.