Leadership Crisis Rocks Enugu NLC

Crisis is brewing in the Enugu chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the authentic and recognised leadership of the congress in the state.

The State Administrative Council (SAC) led by Comrade Chumaife Pius was recently removed and a caretaker committee headed by Comrade Charles Atisele appointed to oversee the affairs of the congress in the state pending election or resolution of the issues that led to the removal of Comrade Chumaife Pius.

But the general secretary of the NLC, Comrade Owei Lakemfa was said to have written the congress in Enugu that the National Administrative Council (NAC), National Executive Council (NEC) and the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the national leadership of NLC recognised Comrade Chumaife Pius as the authentic leader of labour in Enugu State.

The development according to reports, irked the caretaker committee leadership of Comrade Charles Asele to question the authority of the National General Secretary over the State Administrative Council (SAC) decision to remove Comrade Chumaife Pius.

Comrade Charles Asele in a statement said “the NLC general secretary was not mandated by the appropriate organs that have powers to review the removal or impeachment in accordance with the constitution of the congress as amended.”

The statement further stated that “Nigeria Labour Congress is a democratic institution built on the principle of the rule of law and respect for human rights and popular opinion and will of the people” adding that attempt to disregard these tenets negate the principles the congress stands for over the years.

The caretaker committee called on the National Administrative Council (NAC) and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the congress to take firm stand on Enugu State council to save the congress from further embarrassment and the workers from economic enslavement, the statement stated.

However, the constitution of Nigeria Labour Congress as amended empowered the National Administrative Council (NAC), National Executive Council (NEC) and the Central Working Committee (CWC) to ratify the purported dissolution, impeachment or removal of any state congress of the body to be effective or such purported dissolution, impeachment or removal of a state congress remains invalid.