There appears to be no end in sight to the total darkness engulfing Edo, Delta, Ondo, and Ekiti states, following an indefinite strike embarked upon by members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE).
​The industrial action, which commenced in the early hours of Monday, October 19, 2026, has completely shut down the operational facilities, sub-stations, and feeders of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Electricity Plc across its four coverage states.
​Union members picketed the BEDC Headquarters on Akpakpava Road, Benin City, as well as regional operational offices in Asaba (Delta State), Akure (Ondo State), and Ado-Ekiti (Ekiti State), barring non-striking personnel and management staff from entering the premises.
​Addressing journalists in Benin City, Mr. Henry Ogunleye, the Head of Corporate Communications at BEDC Electricity Plc, disclosed that the distribution company had suffered severe operational disruption, accumulating losses exceeding ₦2 billion within the first two days of the shutdown.
​”The management is deeply concerned about the continuous blackout affecting our esteemed customers across Edo, Delta, Ondo, and Ekiti states,” Ogunleye stated. “The ongoing strike by NUEE has paralyzed our operational activities, costing the company over ₦2 billion in revenue losses over just two days. We appeal to the union leadership to return to the negotiation table and restore power supply while discussions continue.”
​Ogunleye further noted that the current management, which assumed control in October 2022, had already introduced significant employee welfare measures, including spending ₦125 million on long-service awards for 1,394 workers, paying ₦75 million to clear outstanding exit benefits, and implementing recent emolument reviews.
​The union’s core grievances center on unresolved welfare packages, staff emoluments, salary harmonisation disputes, and the implementation of the national minimum wage across the electricity sector.
​Union officials insisted that the strike would continue indefinitely until management explicitly commits to resolving all outstanding claims.
​Efforts to reach Comrade Williams Uwumarogie, the Edo State Chairman of NUEE, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered. However, the Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State Council, Comrade Bernard Egwakide, confirmed that organised labour is closely monitoring the situation.
​Speaking at the NLC State Secretariat in Benin City, Egwakide warned that the Congress stands ready to back the electricity workers if dialogue fails.
​”The leadership of NUEE has been engaged in negotiations with BEDC management,” Egwakide said. “We previously intervened to seek an amicable resolution, but the issue of worker welfare and emoluments remains paramount. If the management fails to address these genuine demands, the NLC will fully step in to support our affiliate union.”
​The multi-state blackout has disrupted commercial and administrative operations across major urban centers, including Benin City, Asaba, Warri, Akure, and Ado-Ekiti.
​Government secretariats, public hospitals, commercial banks, and small businesses have been forced to rely heavily on expensive diesel generators and solar power systems to maintain basic operations. Residents in affected neighborhoods have voiced growing frustration over rising fuel costs and the lack of a clear resolution timeframe, as business owners report plummeting productivity due to the lingering power failure.
