Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
It is not yet uhuru in the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has disbanded the Edo State Executive Committee following the resignation of its union’s representative from the Nigeria Labour Congress Edo State Caretaker Committee.
The dissolution was announced in a statement issued by the union’s Secretary General, Comrade Ali Baba and made available to Journalists in Benin.
He said the claim that Mike Ochei, Chairman of the Edo State Tailors was forced to accept the position of the membership of the Caretaker Committee set up by the leadership of the NLC to resolve the crisis in the state council and conduct elections into the state leadership of the Congress, was a lie as he willingly accepted the responsibility.
According to him, “We were therefore shocked when our attention was drawn to media reports on Sunday 14th September about his resignation from the caretaker committee and purported claim that he was coerced into the committee.
“The development created serious disaffection within and outside the movement capable of tarnishing the image of our union.
“Consequently, we convened an emergency meeting of the union’s National Administrative Council (NAC) where it was resolved that the Edo State Executive committee of the union should be dissolved forthwith.
“The Deputy General Secretary of the Union was promptly sent to Benin City to meet with the NLC State Caretaker Committee with a view of tendering the union’s apology and reaffirming the union’s loyalty to the NLC and the Caretaker Committee.
“He was also to meet with our union members in the State, jointly address press conference and subsequently dissolve the state executive till further notice. As we speak, the Edo state executive of our union has been placed on indefinite suspension.
“The leadership of the union is further investigating the role played by individuals including the reported assault on some journalists for severe disciplinary measures”,.
Comrade Baba said that the leadership of the union was neither consulted nor carried along by Comrade Mike Ochei before his resignation from the Edo State NLC caretaker committee.
Baba added that the resignation was a unilateral action, and it does not represent the position of the union.
He said the union therefore, strongly condemn his action adding that it runs contrary to the democratic traditions, collective spirit, and organizational discipline that guides their union as they completely dissociate themselves from it.
According to him “As a union, we tender our unallowed apology to the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). We remain firmly loyal to and supportive of the leadership of the NLC under Comrade Joe Ajaero. We equally reaffirm our full support for the Edo State Caretaker Committee of the NLC as duly constituted by the National Secretariat.
“The caretaker committee remains the legitimate organ mandated to reposition and strengthen the NLC in Edo State, and we urge all affiliates and comrades including our members in Edo state to rally behind it”,.