The National Union of Textile and Garment Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) Edo State chapter’s executive committee, led by Comrade Ochei Mike Onyebuchi, has been placed on indefinite leave after its state chairman resigned from the state NLC Caretaker Committee, which is chaired by Prof. Lewis Monday Igbafen.
Comrade Emeka Nkwoala, the Union’s Deputy General Secretary, told reporters during the zonal exco meeting in Benin City that the Oche-led exco was fired for defaming the union. Nkwoala also announced the suspension.
Comrade Nkwoala stated that after the former exco was dissolved due to various reasons, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the national president of the NLC, had asked NUTGTWN to propose a member to be included in the caretaker committee chaired by Prof. Monday Igbafen to oversee the union’s operations.
The deputy general secretary claims that Comrade Oche, who was properly briefed prior to nomination, willingly accepted membership in the five-member committee and was sworn in. The union was, however, mortified when word leaked out last weekend about Ochei’s abrupt departure.
“On Monday, September 15, 2025, we learned about his resignation through social media, stating that he was forced to accept the offer,” he said. He resigned without telling the union. Since he was consulted and advised on the extent of the job prior to his candidacy, which he voluntarily accepted, he should have informed the union of his desire to quit.
He claims that when Comrade Ochei was duly consulted and consented to serve on the committee before its inauguration, the national body of NUTGTWN, the affiliate union of former NLC president Senator Adams Oshiomhole in his prime as a unionist, felt that he brought the union into disrepute.
“The members of NUTGTWN from Edo State pleaded during the meeting that they would write a letter of apology to the national body and beg not to be dissolved but to be suspended until further notice,” he explained.
Comrade Nkwoala went on to say that the suspended state chairman acknowledged that he resigned from the committee because of pressure and a strong conviction that the committee was against the Edo State Government, but he denied giving an interview to any media outlet during the meeting.
Through the media, he argued that Ochei and his exco’s actions had repercussions because they obtained his consent before to his nomination but neglected to contact the union before his resignation.
“He (Comrade Ochei) has brought the union to disrepute,” Comrade Nkwoala underlined. At its Zoom meeting on Monday, September 15, 2025, the National Administrative Council decided to abolish the union’s Edo State branch.
“As of right now, our union in Edo has suspended the state executive led by Ochei Mike Onyebuchi until further notice. Together with the different state chairmen of our zone in Benin City, we came to that conclusion.
This ruling coincides with the union’s national Administrative Council’s resolution. This implies that they are unable to represent the union in Edo or Nigeria in any capacity.
