By Michael Oche
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has cancelled centralised May Day celebrations in Edo state, citing alleged political interference in the affairs of the State council.
In a statement by Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Ismail Bello, the national leadership of the NLC directed all affiliated unions in Edo State to commemorate the day independently at their respective union secretariats.
Bello said the attention of the leadership of the Congress has been drawn to “an unauthorized circular purportedly issued by an individual claiming to be the ‘acting state secretary’ of the NLC in Edo state council, directing workers to attend a government’s parade on May 1, 2025”
He said that the “NLC has no official position known as acting state secretary”, urging workers to disregard the directive.
Recall that the Edo State Government and NLC have had a frosty relationship due to the government’s rejection of Odion’s leadership of the state NLC following perceived political comments in the lead-up to last year’s governorship election.
The government reportedly expressed unwillingness to work with Odion and was accused of engineering factional divisions within the state council.
Attempts by the national leadership of the NLC and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to mediate were allegedly rebuffed by the Edo State Government.
