The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has advised the Edo State Government to respect the country’s labour laws as regards the recognised leadership of the union in the State.
The Edo State Council of the body gave the advised in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in Benin City.
The statement, signed by Prof. Monday Igbafen, the Acting Caretaker Committee Chairman of NLC in the state, urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to resist selfish and subterranean pressure that would rob the State Government of robust engagement and industrial relations with a legitimate leadership of NLC in the State.
The union also cautioned the general public to be wary of any unauthorised person or group of persons masquerading as the Acting Chairman or leadership of the Edo State Council of the NLC.
It said the legitimate leadership of the Edo Council of the NLC is the one led by Prof Monday Igbafen which was legally constituted by the National Central Working Committee, CWC, of the body.
The statement opined that the clarification had become necessary in order not to allow a continuation of deceit aimed at misinforming and misguiding the public and the Edo State Government about the true position of the leadership of the NLC in the State.
It is alleged that the controversial Bernard Egwakhide-led State Administrative Council, SAC, of the NLC in the State had since been dissolved by the CWC of NLC.
The statement alleged that it was dissolved since August 13, 2025, for unethical behaviour, anti-union activities, and gross violations of the Constitution and rules of the Congress.
“The Edo Council of the NLC advised the Edo State Government to respect the country’s labour laws, especially in terms of the right of trade unions to conclusively decide their leadership.
“The only legitimate authority empowered to speak on behalf of workers in the State is the Igbafen-led Caretaker Committee as recognised by the CWC of NLC.
“We urged the Edo State Government and the general public to disregard any representation, information, or press release that does not have the approval of the Caretaker Committee”, it said.
The Edo NLC Caretaker Committee which reiterated its commitment to the speedy resolution of the crisis in the Edo NLC, however, called for the cooperation of the Edo State Government and all stakeholders.
Igbafen, a professor of Philosophy at Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma is the current Benin Zonal Coordinator, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,
