Electricity supply has been restored in Edo State, South-South Nigeria following the resolution of a labour dispute between Governor Monday Okpebholo and organised labour over the recognition of the state caretaker committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
The agreement was reached at a closed-door meeting in Abuja convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF George Akume, with NLC President Joe Ajaero, Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Muhammad Dingyadi, and former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole in attendance.
Governor Okpebholo said the State Government had agreed to recognise the caretaker committee and work with labour leaders towards conducting a substantive election. Ajaero confirmed the agreement, while Dingyadi said electricity restoration would begin immediately. He added that the NLC would conduct a substantive election in Edo State within three to six months.
Oshiomhole described the dispute as a communication gap that had been resolved, while Akume commended the parties for embracing dialogue. The power outage followed two related but separate disputes. An industrial disagreement between the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, and the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE over workers’ wages and welfare, and a leadership dispute over recognition of the Edo State NLC caretaker committee led by Joseph Igbafe.
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Editor: Terverr Tyav
