Electricity supply is to be restored in Edo State after Governor Monday Okpebholo and leaders of organised labour settled the dispute over the recognition of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) caretaker committee in the state.
Key Highlights
- Governor Okpebholo and NLC resolve dispute over recognition of Edo NLC caretaker committee.
- Agreement reached at a closed-door meeting in Abuja convened by SGF George Akume.
- Edo government to recognise the caretaker committee; substantive NLC election within three to six months.
- NLC President Joe Ajaero says power will be restored in Edo.
- Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi says electricity will be restored immediately.
The agreement was reached at a closed-door meeting in Abuja, convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
Also present were NLC President, Joe Ajaero; Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi; and former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Okpebholo: We Have Resolved The Issues
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Governor Okpebholo said the parties have resolved the matter.
He said the state government would recognise the NLC 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 on the NLC caretaker committee in Edo,” he said.
Ajaero confirmed the agreement and thanked the governor, Akume, Dingyadi and Sen. Oshiomhole for their roles.
He said labour has agreed to work with the state government in recognising the caretaker committee and organising a substantive election, and to address the rights and privileges due to the committee.
“Consequently, power will be restored in Edo,” Ajaero said.
Sen. Oshiomhole described the dispute as a communication gap, which he said has now been resolved. He said the reason for continuing the action by labour no longer exists.
He also commended the governor’s offer to rebuild trust between the state government and organised labour, saying that renewed cooperation by both parties is needed to maintain industrial harmony in the state.
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NLC Election Within Six Months
Dingyadi said the parties have agreed to work together for the peace and progress of Edo State and Nigeria. He said the NLC would conduct a substantive election in the state 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 the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) over workers’ pay and welfare.
The second was a leadership dispute with the Edo State NLC, led by Joseph Igbafe, over the recognition of its caretaker committee.
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