Salvo: NLC Cancels May Day Celebrations In Rivers, Edo states
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has announced the cancellation of its centralised May Day celebrations in Rivers and Edo states.
The Organised Labour said that the cancellation of the May Day in Rivers was a result of the imposition of emergency rule in the Oil rich State while that of Edo State followed alleged undue political interference in the affairs of the State Council of the NLC by the State Government.
The national leadership of the NLC has therefore directed all of its affiliate bodies in Rivers State to organize and limit Workers’ Day celebrations to the state NLC secretariat while in Edo State, the various unions should commemorate the celebrations independently at their respective secretariats.
The directives were contained in two separate letters dated April 22, 2025, signed by Ismail Bello, Deputy General Secretary of the NLC, and addressed to the NLC chairmen in both states in which the umbrella body of the trade unions expressed its opposition to the imposition of State of Emergency in Rivers State and the appointment of a Sole Administrator and therefore demanded the reinstatement of the elected government.
The NLC said that it was at odds with the present administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo in Edo State over alleged undue interference and the creation of factions within the state council of the Labour body.
In the letter to the Chairman of the Rivers State Council, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, the national leadership of labour directed the State chapter to organize a peaceful rally within the premises of the Rivers State Council of the NLC, involving all affiliate members.
It stated; “However, given the peculiar circumstances surrounding the subversion of democratic governance in Rivers State, the occasion calls not for fanfare, but for critical reflection on the need to restore democratic governance and prioritize the people in leadership.
“As a democratic organization, we must use this occasion to call for the restoration of democratic rule in Rivers State.
Similarly, the NLC in its letter to the Edo State Chiarman, Comrade Olaye Odion, vowed that it would take all measures to defend its independence and stand firmly with workers of the State unconditionally.
It therefore declared that in view of the ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis within the NLC Edo State council and to bring about unity among affiliates, all affiliates should make independent arrangements to commemorate the 2025 May Day at their respective union offices.
The NLC said that it has no official position known as “Acting State Chairman and Secretary”, stressing that the sponsored individuals behind such were impostors’
In the words of the NLC; “We reiterate that Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide is not known in any of our statutes or records as the Chairman of NLC in Edo State. When there is a change in the components of NLC’s Edo State council leadership, members of the public and our social partners would be informed accordingly.
“It should be noted that May Day is a workers’ celebration, not a government’s event. No worker is under any compulsion to attend any government-organized parade. “Threats of sanctions for non-attendance are null, void, and a blatant unacceptable intimidation tactic. Trade unions are independent organizations that function in line with the dictates of their rules free from any external interference.
The Governor Okpbholo-led administration and the leadership of the NLC in the State have been having a frosty relationship following the statement credited to the NLC which the State government perceived as political stand against it in the lead-up to 2024 governorship election.
Accordingly, the government expressed unwillingness to work with the Comrade Odion-led NLC and allegedly orchestrated a division within the state NLC.
It was also gathered that several attempts by the national leadership of the NLC and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to mediate in the face-off were rebuffed by the Edo State Government.
