Five days after a blackout, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, has finally restored power supply to Edo State.
DAILY POST reports that electricity was restored early on Saturday, October 24, 2026, following the intervention of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, and the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The intervention followed a closed-door meeting convened by the SGF, attended by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, former Edo State Governor and ex-NLC President, Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.
DAILY POST recalls that the BEDC chapter of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, embarked on industrial action on Monday, October 19, 2026, over demands for improved welfare and better conditions of service.
The industrial action affected BEDC's four franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti.
While power supply has since been restored to the three other states, Edo was left out due to alleged interference by the state government in the affairs of the state chapter of the NLC executive.
DAILY POST gathered that the restoration of power supply to Edo State followed an agreement by the state government to recognise the caretaker committee under Joe Ajaero-led NLC.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Governor Okpebholo said the parties had resolved the dispute following an agreement that the state government would recognise the caretaker committee and work with labour leaders on arrangements for a substantive election.
According to him, “There is no issue, actually, and we have resolved the issues that border the NLC caretaker committee in Edo.”
Also speaking, Ajaero confirmed the agreement and thanked the governor, Akume, Dingyadi and Oshiomhole for their roles in resolving the dispute.
Ajaero said labour had agreed to work with the state government on recognising the caretaker committee, organising a substantive election and addressing the rights and privileges due to the committee.
“Consequently, power will be restored in Edo,” he added.
On his part, Oshiomhole described the dispute as a communication gap, which he said had now been resolved.
Oshiomhole, a senator representing Edo North in the National Assembly, noted that the issues that led to the industrial action had been resolved.
He added that Governor Okpebholo had offered to rebuild trust between the Edo State Government and organised labour, noting that renewed cooperation was necessary to maintain industrial harmony.
In his remarks, Dingyadi said the parties had agreed to work together for the peace and progress of Edo State and Nigeria.
He said the NLC would conduct a substantive election in Edo within three to six months, assuring that electricity supply would be restored immediately.
The SGF, Senator Akume, commended the participants for their willingness to resolve the dispute through dialogue.