By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Anambra State Government, demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of two circulars issued by the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), while also and calling for the removal of the commission’s chairman, Barr. Vin Ifeanyi Ezeaka.
The labour body warned that failure to meet the demands within specified timelines will trigger state-wide industrial measures.
The directive, contained in a communiqué signed by the Chairman of the NLC Anambra State Council, Comrade Sir Humphrey E. Nwafor, KSJI, and the Secretary, Comrade Gaius Chukwuka, JP, was part of the resolutions reached at the Council’s Executive meeting on Monday.
The two-page communiqué was also copied to key state actors including the Secretary to the State Government, the Head of Service, the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government, the Local Government Service Commission Chairman, as well as the National President of the NLC in Abuja
According to the Congress, the resolution was in reaction to the NLC controversial circulars recently issued by the Local Government Service Commission dated 24th September 2025 (Ref: ANS/LGSC/5/57/VOL.XI) and 26th September 2025 (Ref: ANS/LGSC/5/58/VOL.XI/103), which purportedly suspend the activities of NULGE in the 21 Local Government Areas and interfere with the membership rights of workers.
By issuing the said circulars, the NLC accused the Local Government Services Commission of meddling into the internal affairs of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and described the circulars as unlawful interference in trade-union autonomy.
After an enlarged State Executive Council (SEC) meeting on Monday, the labour body set out detailed legal grounds for its position. The NLC affirmed that NULGE is a duly registered union under the Third Schedule of the Trade Union Act (LFN 2004) and argued that the LGSC lacks the legal authority to suspend a registered trade union. The SEC cited Section 12(4) of the Trade Union Act and noted that trade-union matters sit on the Exclusive Legislative List, placing them beyond the competence of the Commission.
Regarding the question of check-off dues, the SEC concluded the LGSC’s directive to stop statutory deductions contravenes Section 17 (a) and (b) of the Trade Union Act. The NLC said the instruction to the Accountant-General amounts to an overreach and a direct attack on established labour practices that fund union activity.
The labour body also turned its fire on the conduct of the LGSC Chairman, Barr. Vin Ifeanyi Ezeaka. The SEC said the Chairman’s actions were apparently triggered by criticisms contained in a NULGE communiqué issued after the union’s enlarged SEC meeting on September 17, 2025, and described his behaviour as tantamount to “administrative rascality” that undermines industrial peace in the state.
Consequent upon these, the NLC made a three-point demand. First, it asked for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the two LGSC circulars within 48 hours.
Secondly, the Congress demanded that the LGSC desist from further interference in NULGE affairs.
It thirdly called for the immediate removal of Barr. Vin Ifeanyi Ezeaka as Chairman of the LGSC and asked that a full-scale probe and investigation be instituted into the allegations raised against him in a NULGE communiqué dated September 17, 2025.
According to the NLC, if the said circulars are not withdrawn within the 48-hour window, all its state affiliates will mobilise and picket the office of the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission. It further added that if these demands remain unaddressed within seven days, the NLC will direct all affiliates to commence a full-scale industrial action across Anambra State.
“Mr Governor, the Congress remains committed to sustaining industrial harmony in Anambra State. However, we shall not hesitate to defend the constitutional rights of our members and affiliates should these unlawful actions persist,” the communiqué concluded.
