Ondo NLC in crisis as two chairmen emerge

The Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is currently in crisis as two persons are laying claim to the leadership of the union.

The duo of Comrade Victor Amoko and Comrade Olapade Ademola are claiming the chairmanship position of the Union in the state.

Ademola was on Thursday reportedly elected as the chairman at a special meeting of the NLC State Executive Council .

It was claimed that Ademola’s election was attended by 22 affiliate unions, presided over by the NLC vice-chairperson, Comrade Busola Adewumi.

But members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) boycotted the election which produced Ademola.

The election, according to the affiliate unions, was because Amoko had retired from service.

Reacting, Amoko, who is a member of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), said he remained the Ondo NLC Chairman because he was still in service.

He said that the government approved the extension of service for teachers in the state, complaining that some leaders of the union kicked and said he would not be NLC Chairman again while in extended service.

“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 recognised me as the NLC chairman,” he said.

However, the other affiliates unions which included the (NUT) and the (NULGE) which boycotted the meeting where Ademola was said to have been elected, described his election as null and void.

They insisted that Amoko remained Ondo NLC chairman as spelt out in the union’s constitution.