The crisis blighting organized labour in Delta State deepened last Friday when the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku reportedly intruded and hijacked the election of Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (PSJNC), Delta State Council.
NLC Chairman, it was gathered is not a member of PSJNC and as such, does not have the constitutional right to conduct PSJNC election.
On Wednesday 17th of January 2024, the NLC Chairman allegedly constituted a meeting PSJNC without notifying the Association of Senior Civil Servants (ASCSN) being the Council 1 of the 3 Councils of the PSJNC.
He reportedly briskly sacked the Chairman of PSJNC, Comrade (Mrs) Ikpen Jegede and instantaneously stopped her from presiding over the meeting.
All effort by the Mrs Jegede to protest her illegal removal by the NLC Chairman, who, prima facie, was not a member of PSJNC and constitutionally not allowed to interfere with day-to-day activities of the PSJNC, was arrogantly and dictatorially shunned.
Jungle Journalist Media Limited that the plan behind holding the unconstitutional meeting was to organize a kangaroo election just to usurp the original agreement of zoning the PSJNC chairmanship position to Council 1, in line with the rotational provision of the Constitution of the PSJNC.
According to reports, Ofobruku’s decision to surreptitiously edge out Council 1 from PSJNC is described “as irrational and vindictive” adding that it “laid bare a shameful episode in our history as a organize labour”, a member of PSJNC said.
Ofobruku alleged intrusion to conduct kangarooed election for PSJNC which threw up new leadership with State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Benson Efetor as the new PSJNC Chairman has also been described as “disappointing and tragic”.
“It’s bad for NLC, it’s bad for the TUC, it’s bad for the workers in the State, it’s bad for progressive forces and organize labour in general,” because he does not have the constitutional right to constitute or conduct PSJNC meetings or election.
The exclusion of Council 1, marked the biggest split in the PSJNC, a sign that the organized labour in State could further fracture, following months of infighting that is seen as a reflection of broader factionalized Labour Union in Delta.
Ofobruku, accused of contravening PSJNC rules, has been increasingly outspoken critic of the State Government in apparent desperate attempt to radicalize Labour Union in Delta State.
Further reports say, union members of PSJNC and all workers who make Council 1 from Grades Level 7 and above in the civil service are spoiling for war even as they called on the State Head of Service to intervene before the situation escalates beyond control.