Leadership tussle splits Ondo NLC

Crisis has erupted in the leadership of the Ondo State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress as affiliate unions – Nigeria Union of Teachers and the National Union of Local Government Employees, on Thursday, rejected the election of the new chairman, Comrade Ademola Olapade.

Olopade was elected on Thursday at a special meeting of the Ondo NLC State Executive Council attended by 22 affiliate unions which was presided over by the NLC Vice Chairperson, Comrade Busola Adewumi.

The NULGE and the NUT which boycotted the Thursday meeting where Ademola was elected, declared the election null and void, insisting that a purported former chairman of the congress, Victor Amoko, remained Ondo NLC chairman as spelled out in the Congress’ constitution.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved unions, the Ondo NULGE President, Federick Akinrinola, said the election of Olapade was an aberration and violation of the NLC constitution, noting that the 300 affiliate unions would not recognise Olopade as its chairman.

He said, “Our demand is that the Kangaroo election is illegal. We are totally against the illegality. It is an aberration. It is not a matter of the election but the constitution. Who can hold forth in the absence of the Chairman? It is the Vice Chairman.

“The election is illegal and we will not recognise the new chairman. Other affiliates will not recognise him. The national body of NLC was not present in their kangaroo election.

“If they do not do the needful. The NUT and NULGE and other affiliates will leave the NLC. Their antics is that Amoko should go on retirement but former President Buhari approved service elongation for teachers and the Ondo State government has adopted it. We still have the NLC chairman. The NLC is a well-structured union throughout the federation. The constitution stated clearly that in the absence of the chairman, only the Vice chairman can summon SEC meeting.

“The person who summoned the meeting, that is, the Vice Chairman, NLC Women Wing. The Woman is not eligible. Since the NULGE, NUT, and other affiliates know that the meeting was not properly summoned, we decided to boycott the meeting.”

Speaking on his emergence, Olapade vowed to work towards enhanced welfare packages for workers in Ondo, commending Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to improving the welfare of state workers and pensioners since he assumed office.

He said, “I want to thank the SEC members of Ondo State Nigeria Labour Congress for giving me the privilege and power to lead the Congress. I’m very happy about it, and it is a big task. I pray that Almighty God helps me to do the needful.

“Workers should expect better outcomes in terms of improved salary, pension, promotion, and training. For that reason, I want to thank the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for the wage award to the tertiary institutions. The government should not relent; they should continue the payment and review the wages of the workers of Ondo State upwards, considering the economic factors.”

The new chairman also called on the government to approve the demand of labour, for a new minimum wage for the better welfare of Nigerian workers.