As the crisis rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress in Edo State continue unabated, 34 Affiliate Unions out of the 38 on Tuesday disowned Comrade Odion Olaye as their chairman.
Heads of the affiliate unions in a statement that was made available to journalists in Benin said 34 unions passed a vote of no confidence on Comrade Odion Olaye on 11th of November, 2924 for anti- Union activities, financial mismanagement and abuse of office.
The statement reads, “This is to bring to the notice of the general public that one Mr Odion Olaye who steered the ship of the (NURTW) National Union of Road Transport Workers in Edo state for over 22 years before he was kicked out by a court of competent jurisdiction, and also a former Edo (NLC) Nigeria labour Congress chairman before he was removed by 34 out of 38 affiliate unions with a vote of no confidence on the 11th of November 2024 for Anti-union activities , financial mismanagement, and abuse of office .
“Just recently, as the state congress leadership was trying to replace him as signatory to the congress bank account ,it was discovered that Odion Olaye surreptitiously went and introduced one Josephine Ngozi Ibe of Nubife to the bank as signatory and co-signed and remove the sum of 2 million naira (#2,000,000) from the congress bank account , even when the said Josephine Ibe is not the congress Treasurer or Secretary.
“This, to say the least, is the height of corruption and thievery by Mr ODION OLAYE who had used one of his sons as Treasurer of the state congress during his nearly two years reign as Edo (NLC) Nigeria labour Congress chairman even when the congress had an elected treasurer.
” His cohorts in Abuja are keeping mum on a matter of such importance which is capable of embarrassing the NLC even at the national level.
“This fraudulent act of Mr olaye will not be swept under the carpet like the others, he has been perpetrating as the congress is going to use every instrument at its disposal to ensure that Mr ODION OLAYE and Josephine Ibe is punished according to the law for this criminal act . The matter has already been reported to the law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities in the state.
“We urge every member of the NLC in the state to remain calm and not to take laws into their hands as Olaye will be made to face the music in due course.
“The congress once again warns the general public not to transact any business in the name of Edo NLC with ODION OLAYE as he is no longer the Edo NLC chairman, Anyone who does so, will be at his or her own risk.”