The Edo State Government has issued an urgent appeal on Friday morning, to the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Plc, urging all parties to sustain constructive engagement, exercise restraint, and prioritise a peaceful resolution that minimizes further disruption to residents, commercial enterprises, healthcare facilities, and essential public services across the state.
​The government’s intervention comes as a sweeping industrial action enters its fourth day, leaving households, small businesses, major industries, and medical institutions in total darkness. Beyond Edo State, the widespread outage has also crippled administrative and economic activities across neighboring Ondo, Delta, and Ekiti states, which fall within the BEDC operational network.
​The dispute escalated on Monday, October 19, 2026, when NUEE members shut down key operational facilities and barricaded the main offices of the electricity distribution company in Benin City. The labor union’s grievances stem primarily from long-standing demands for salary harmonization and a structured increase in remuneration for workers across the distribution grid.
​In an effort to avert a prolonged crisis, state authorities and security agencies initiated multi-party conciliation talks. A critical mediation session took place on the night of Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Benin City, followed by continued conciliation meetings led by state executive ministries.
​Speaking on the ongoing state-led mediation, the Edo State Commissioner for Energy, Hon. Paul Usenbo, confirmed that government officials have been actively bridging the gap between union executives and BEDC management. Usenbo emphasized the administration’s determination to resolve the standoff, noting that he personally attended joint management and union sessions where the core issues of salary harmonization and pay increments were discussed at length.
​To broaden the resolution framework, the Edo State Commissioner for Labor and Productivity, Hon. Godwin Esheshie, traveled to Abuja on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to engage directly with the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and align state efforts with federal labor organs.
​Meanwhile, the sustained power outage continues to severely strain public infrastructure and local commerce across the state capital and surrounding local government areas. Hospitals and private medical facilities have been forced to rely heavily on industrial diesel generators to maintain critical cold-chain storage and keep life-support equipment functional.
Small business owners, particularly cold-storage operators and service establishments, report crippling overhead costs as diesel prices surge, while state administrative departments in Benin City have resorted to emergency backup generators and solar systems to keep basic government operations running.
​Reactions from key stakeholders reflect the growing urgency to end the deadlock. Energy Commissioner Usenbo reaffirmed Governor Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to comprehensive energy reforms, worker welfare, and public safety, while maintaining an earnest plea for an immediate, peaceful compromise.
Giving context on the broader union position, the Acting Edo State Chairman of the NLC, Bernard Egwakide, stated that congress officials intervened early in the dispute and are continually evaluating the situation to determine if broader labor measures will be required.
​On the employer’s side, a representative from BEDC management expressed surprise over the sudden shutdown, maintaining that the company had recently reviewed worker emoluments prior to the action. Representatives for the Edo State NUEE Chairman, Williams Uwumarogie, could not be reached immediately for public comment during the initial conciliation proceedings.
​Energy Commissioner Usenbo concluded by reiterating that electricity workers remain fundamental to sustaining the state’s power infrastructure. He gave assurances that the state government will remain at the negotiating table alongside union leaders, power distributors, and national regulatory bodies until power is fully restored and a permanent agreement is signed.
