Crisis Hits NLC as Two Chairmen Emerge in Ondo

 

The Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is currently embroiled in a leadership crisis, with two individuals, Comrade Victor Amoko and Comrade Olapade Ademola, each claiming to be the rightful chairman of the union.

Comrade Olapade Ademola was elected as the chairman during a special meeting of the NLC State Executive Council (SEC) held on Thursday. This election was attended by representatives from 22 affiliate unions and was overseen by NLC Vice-Chairperson Comrade Busola Adewumi. However, members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) boycotted this election.

The election of Ademola was reportedly based on the grounds that Amoko had retired from service. In contrast, Amoko, a member of the NUT, has refuted these claims, asserting that he remains the legitimate NLC Chairman because he is still in active service. He explained that the government had approved an extension of service for teachers, which he is benefiting from, and thus he should still hold his position.

“I am not retired. In Ondo, the governor granted an elongation of service of which I am a beneficiary. They said they would not allow me to use the elongation as the NLC chairman. I still pay my dues during this time and it is the payment of dues that makes me an NLC member. They wrote to the NLC national body on my issue but no reply. I am still the chairman. I have not received any letter to tell me I have been replaced. I know the government still recognizes me as the NLC chairman,” Amoko stated.

The affiliate unions that boycotted the election, including the NUT and NULGE, have declared Ademola’s election null and void, insisting that Amoko remains the legitimate chairman as per the union’s constitution. Ondo NULGE President Comrade Federick Akinrinola, speaking on behalf of the unions, criticized Ademola’s election as an aberration and a violation of the NLC constitution.

“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 bye-election but constitution. Who can hold forth in the absence of the chairman? It is the vice chairman. The election is illegal and we will not recognize the new chairman. Other affiliates will not recognize 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,” Akinrinola declared.

The unions have underscored that the constitution clearly states that in the absence of the chairman, only the vice chairman can summon a SEC meeting. They argued that the vice chairperson of the NLC Women Wing, who summoned the election meeting, was not eligible to do so, thus delegitimizing the election. The crisis has thus resulted in a significant division within the NLC’s Ondo State chapter.