Edo NLC Caretaker Committee Directs Affiliate Unions to Boycott Ministry’s Meeting Over Omission

BENIN CITY — The Caretaker Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State Council, has directed all chairmen and secretaries of its affiliate unions across the state to completely distance themselves from a upcoming sensitization and familiarization meeting convened by the Edo State Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

​The boycott directive comes in response to an official letter issued by the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, signed by the Director of Admin. and Supplies, Ighodaro O. Kingsley, on behalf of the Functioning Permanent Secretary. The ministry’s letter, dated September 18, 2026, invited all affiliate unions under the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to a one-day familiarization session scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City.

​However, the Caretaker Committee of the Edo NLC, led by Chairman Comrade Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen, revealed that no formal invitation was extended to the recognized, legitimate leadership of the state council.

​In an official press statement issued on Friday, September 18, 2026, Prof. Igbafen clarified that while the Caretaker Committee remains open to productive dialogue and constructive engagement with government entities, the leadership cannot attend or sanction a meeting to which it was not officially invited.

​Key Highlights of the NLC Statement:

• ​Lack of Formal Invitation: The NLC Caretaker Committee stated unequivocally that no official correspondence was sent or addressed to the state council’s legitimate leadership regarding the September 23 gathering.
• ​Directive to Boycott: Prof. Igbafen urged all leadership structures, affiliate chairmen, and secretaries to strictly boycott the scheduled event at JOOPSA.
• ​Enforcement: Affiliate members are expected to comply fully with the boycott directive, as attendance without formal protocol violates collective council resolve.

​The state council emphasized that total compliance and solidarity among affiliate unions are necessary to uphold the union’s legitimate administrative structure until the state government addresses the oversight and formally engages the caretaker committee.