The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has distanced itself from a circular making the rounds directing workers in Edo State to attend the Governor’s parade on 1st May 2025, to mark this year’s workers celebration.
A statement signed by NLC’s Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Ismail Bello on Sunday, said Congress directive that workers should mark the day in their respective union offices pending resolution of ongoing crisis with the Edo State government was still very much in place.
He said: “Our attention. been drawn to a duplicitous and unauthorized circular purportedly issued by an individual claiming to be the “Acting State Secretary” of the NLC Edo State Council, directing workers to attend a Governor’s parade on May 1st, 2025.
“Our earlier directive (Ref: 22nd April 2025) remains valid. Affiliates in Edo State are to commemorate the 2025 May Day independently in their respective union offices, in line with Congress’s efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis in the state council.
“The NLC has no official position known as Acting State Secretary. The individual behind this circular is an impostor, and his motives are highly questionable. We urge workers and the public to disregard this fraudulent document. He clearly neither works for the NLC nor for the workers.
“We reiterate that Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide is not known in any of our statutes or records as the Chairman of NLC in Edo state. When there is a change in the components of NLC’s Edo state council leadership, members of the Public and our social partners would be informed accordingly.
“It should be noted that May Day is a workers’ celebration, not a government’s event. No worker is under any compulsion to attend any government-organized parade. Threats of sanctions for non-attendance are null, void, and a blatant unacceptable intimidation tactic.
“Trade unions are independent organizations that function in line with the dictates of their rules free from any external interference. We will take all measures to defend our independence and will stand firmly with workers of Edo State unconditionally.
“NLC reaffirms its commitment to resolving the Edo State Council crisis and ensuring a united, worker-centric celebration of May Day.”
