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The Edo state government has expressed concern over the hardship the prolonged electricity blackout is causing residents and businesses following the industrial dispute between the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The government said it was intensifying efforts to ensure that the parties resolve their differences, appealing to the union and BEDC management to exercise restraint, sustain dialogue and reach a mutually acceptable agreement in the interest of electricity consumers and the State’s economy.
The Commissioner for Power, Barr. Paul Usenbo, disclosed this on Thursday in Benin City while briefing journalists on efforts to restore power following the industrial action.
Usenbo maintained that although BEDC was a private company, the State government had a responsibility to intervene because “electricity is an essential service affecting households, businesses, healthcare facilities and other public institutions.”
He said the State government had been engaging relevant stakeholders to resolve the dispute, adding that the Minister of Labour and Employment was participating in further discussions in Abuja to facilitate an early resolution.
Usenbo explained that Edo was excluded from the agreement to suspend the strike in Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states because of unresolved labour issues, a dispute over union recognition and leadership within BEDC which had further complicated efforts to resolve the crisis.
He added, “the industrial dispute initially appeared to have been resolved following a meeting convened by the state government at the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Edo on Monday, where the parties reportedly agreed to suspend the strike on Tuesday.
“However, the intervention was overtaken by a subsequent conciliation meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.”
He said two unions operated within the electricity distribution company, with one affiliated with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and NUEE affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Usenbo noted that the government had been informed that some of the union-related issues dated back to 2024 and were already before a court, with the next hearing reportedly scheduled for November 2, 2026.
On long-term measures to address the power challenges, the Commissioner said the Okpebholo administration had anticipated the shortcomings associated with dependence on a single electricity distribution company and had initiated reforms which had opened up the State’s power and energy sector to local and international investors.
According to him, some of the investments and initiatives being pursued by the administration were nearing completion, expressing optimism that they would help address existing challenges and improve access to reliable electricity when completed.
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