NUT, NULGE threatens to pull out of NLC
The Nigeria Labour Crisis in Ondo State has been thrown into crisis following the election of Comrade Olapade Ademola as Chairman to replace Comrade Victor Amoko.
Some affiliates unions have, however, declared the election of Comrade Ademola as illegal, null and void.
Comrade Ademola was elected on Thursday at a special meeting of the Ondo NLC State Executive Council (SEC) attended by 22 affiliate unions.
The meeting which was presided over by the NLC Vice Chairperson, Comrade Busola Adewumi, was convened to fill the vacant position following the retirement of Comrade Amoko.
But other unions such as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) insisted that Amoko was still in active service.
In an interview, Amoko said he remained the Ondo NLC Chairman because the state government approved extension of service for teachers in the state.
He said, “I am not retired. In Ondo, the Governor granted an elongation of service of which I am a beneficiaries. They said they will not allow me use the elongation as NLC Chairman.
“I still pay my dues during this time and it is payment of dues that makes me NLC member. They wrote to NLC national body on my issue but no reply. I am still the chairman. I have not received letter to tell me I have been replaced. I know the government still recognised me as NLC Chairman.”
Other affiliates unions which boycotted the meeting where Ademola was elected said the NLC constitution recognised Amoko as Chairman.
Ondo NULGE President, Comrade Federick Akinrinola, said the election of Ademola violated the NLC constitution.
Comrade Akinrinola said, “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 recognise the new Chairman. Other affiliates will not recognise 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.
“Their antics is that Amoko should go on retirement but former President Buhari approved service elongation for teachers and the Ondo State government has adopted it. We still have NLC Chairman NLC is a well structured union throughout the federation. The constitution stated clearly that in the absence of Chairman, only the Vice chairman can summon SEC meeting.
“The person who summmon that is Vice Chairman, NLC Women Wing. The Woman is not eligible. Since the NULGE, NUT and other affiliate know that the meeting was not properly summoned, we decided to boycott the meeting.”
