The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to intervene in the industrial dispute between the National Union of Electricity Employees and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company over the prolonged disruption of electricity supply in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.
The House said the shutdown, if sustained, could endanger lives, disrupt essential services and worsen the economic difficulties of residents and businesses across the affected states.
The call followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Clement Jimbo, a member of the House from Akwa Ibom State.
Presenting the motion, Jimbo expressed concern that the dispute had disrupted electricity supply and forced the shutdown of some critical services, warning that a prolonged outage could have serious consequences for healthcare delivery, water supply, telecommunications, banking and education.
“The disruption of electricity supply over 24 hours, if sustained, poses a serious threat to public safety, socio-economic activities and the delivery of essential services across the affected states.
“The House is aware that prolonged power outages may compromise the medical and healthcare facilities in hospitals, laboratories, maternity centres and emergency units operation of life-support equipment and other temperature-sensitive medical supply as well as surgical services to patients,” Jimbo said.
Jimbo further noted that the blackout would affect small businesses and public infrastructure that depend on a regular power supply to function effectively.
He expressed concern that alternative electricity sources, including solar power, might not provide sufficient relief during the rainy season because of reduced sunlight for charging batteries.
The lawmaker called for urgent intervention to prevent the dispute from escalating and to ensure the restoration of electricity distribution across the four states.
The motion was supported by a majority of lawmakers at the plenary and the House subsequently called on the Federal Government, through the relevant electricity-sector authorities, to intervene in the dispute and facilitate an amicable and lasting resolution between NUEE and BEDC.
It also mandated its Committees on Power and Labour and Employment to “investigate the circumstances surrounding the dispute, identify the immediate causes of the shutdown and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.”
The lawmakers urged the union and BEDC management to resume dialogue and negotiations, stressing the need for both parties to take the necessary steps to restore electricity supply.
The House further called on relevant authorities to make alternative power arrangements for hospitals, emergency medical facilities and other critical public services pending the restoration of normal supply.
The dispute has brought renewed attention to the consequences of prolonged electricity interruptions in communities where households, businesses and public institutions depend on the distribution network for power.
The House’s intervention is aimed at securing a resolution that would restore supply to affected communities while addressing the issues underlying the disagreement between the electricity workers’ union and the distribution company.
Dirisu Yakubu is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience covering parliament, politics, and development issues. He specializes in reporting that provides context and insight into legislative and governance matters. Dirisu’s work reflects extensive newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and impactful journalism.
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