Edo govt, NLC strike peace deal as Labour moves to restore electricity

By Victor Ahiuma-Young The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Edo State Government have resolved their prolonged dispute, with the state government agreeing to recognise the NLC caretaker committee. As part of the truce, the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, is expected to take steps towards restoring electricity to the state that has been in total darkness since Monday.

The NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, said the resolution followed a meeting brokered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, at his residence on Friday, October 23, 2026. According to Upah, the meeting was attended by the Edo State Governor, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, former Governor of the State and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole and the Minister of Labour and Employment.

Upah said, “The long-running dispute between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Edo State Government on the non-recognition of the NLC caretaker committee in Edo State has been brought to an end. “At a meeting brokered by the SGF at his residence today, Friday, October 23, 2026, between the Edo State Government, represented by the governor, and the NLC, represented by President Comrade Joe Ajaero, the governor accepted to recognise and work with the NLC caretaker committee in Edo State as the lawful representative of the NLC.

“The governor also agreed to ensure that check-off dues are remitted through the appropriate channels to the NLC.” On the steps to consolidate the peace agreement, Upah said the Edo State governor had requested a meeting with the caretaker committee. “As part of the peace initiative, the Edo State governor requested the Congress president to lead the caretaker committee to pay him a courtesy visit in Benin City,” he said.

Upah further disclosed that the NLC secretariat in Edo State, which had remained under lock and key amid the dispute, would reopen immediately. “The Congress Secretariat in Edo State, which has been under lock and key by some people who presented themselves as acting for and on behalf of the governor, even as the governor denied knowledge or acquiescence of their actions, is to reopen immediately,” he said.

He added that the agreement would restore normal relations between the state government and organised labour. “The regular or normal statutory relationship between the state government and the NLC is to resume with immediate effect,” Upah stated. On electricity supply, the NLC Acting General Secretary said the labour movement had also undertaken to facilitate the restoration of power to the state.

“On the NLC’s part, NUEE is to restore power to Edo State as soon as practicable,” he said. Upah recalled that the dispute had escalated over what the Congress described as anti-labour actions by the Edo State Government. “It will be recalled that the prolonged anti-labour actions of the government, which constituted interference, intimidation and bullying, compelled the NLC to lodge a complaint against the Edo State Government at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), for which Nigeria was indicted,” he said.

The agreement is expected to pave the way for the reopening of the NLC secretariat, the resumption of normal industrial relations, the proper remittance of check-off dues and steps towards restoring electricity in Edo State. Observers believe the full implementation of the resolutions will be crucial to sustaining the peace agreement and preventing a recurrence of the dispute between the state government and organised labour.