NUEE Strike: Edo Govt Assures of Restoration of Power Supply to Residents
Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin City
After a week of power cuts in Edo State, resulting in a total blackout and crippling social, commercial and business activities, the state government has assured that the striking National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) will soon resume operations.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr. Patrick Ebojele, the governor and leaders of organised labour settled the dispute over recognition of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) caretaker committee in the state and related issues yesterday.
The statement said the agreement was reached at a closed-door meeting in Abuja convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
Also present were NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero; Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; and former Edo State Governor and ex-NLC President Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Governor Okpebholo said the parties had resolved the matter. He said the state government would recognise the caretaker committee and work with labour leaders on arrangements for a substantive election.
“There is no issue actually, and we have resolved the issues that border the NLC caretaker committee in Edo,” he said.
Ajaero confirmed the agreement and thanked the Governor, Akume, Dingyadi and Oshiomhole for their roles.
He said labour had agreed to work with the state government to recognise the caretaker committee and organise a substantive election, and to address the rights and privileges due to the committee.
“Consequently, power will be restored in Edo,” Ajaero said.
Oshiomhole described the dispute as a communication gap, which he said had now been resolved. He said the reason for continuing the action no longer existed. He also noted the Governor’s offer to rebuild trust between the Edo State Government and organised labour, and said renewed cooperation was needed to maintain industrial harmony.
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.
“The principal issue, which is electricity, is going to be restored immediately,” the minister said.
Akume commended the participants for their willingness to settle the matter through dialogue.
The power outage followed two related but separate disputes. The first was an industrial disagreement between BEDC Electricity Plc and NUEE over workers’ pay and welfare.
The second was a leadership dispute with the Edo State NLC, led by Joseph Igbafe, over recognition of its caretaker committee.
