BEDC–NLC Dispute: Uwoghiren Condemns Six-Day Edo Blackout, Accuses Labour Leaders of Punishing Citizens

BENIN CITY — Legal practitioner Jefferson Uwoghiren has condemned the six-day electricity blackout in Edo State arising from the industrial dispute involving the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and electricity workers under the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), accusing organised labour of making ordinary citizens bear the cost of its disagreements with government and management.

In a statement titled “Merchants of Darkness,” Uwoghiren reacted to the reported October 23, 2026, settlement between the Edo State Government and the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), brokered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Under the agreement, the Edo State Government agreed to recognise the NLC caretaker committee in the state, while the Congress undertook to facilitate the restoration of electricity by NUEE as soon as practicable.

Uwoghiren argued that the settlement raised questions about whether the prolonged disruption of electricity had become entangled with the struggle for recognition between organised labour and the state government.

He accused labour leaders of using industrial action as a means of exerting political pressure, arguing that the consequences fell disproportionately on small businesses, students, patients and low-income households.

The blackout followed the shutdown of BEDC operational facilities by electricity workers over unresolved labour issues, including remuneration and welfare concerns. Although the industrial action was suspended in Delta, Ondo and Ekiti following negotiations, Edo remained affected pending the resolution of issues peculiar to the state.

While BEDC appealed to the Edo State Government and NLC to resolve their differences, the company said the unresolved dispute had prevented it from resuming full operations in the state.

Uwoghiren said the consequences of the blackout included losses for barbers, cold-room operators and other small businesses, as well as hardship for students preparing for examinations and patients requiring electricity-dependent medical care.

He called for legislation to prevent unions, companies and politicians from using electricity disruption as a weapon against the public.

Below is the full statement:

“From the reported Abuja Settlement between Edo State Government and NLC leaders, it is now patently clear that the six days of darkness labour unionists imposed on Edo people was not in reaction to poor working conditions.

“It was political pressure. A ploy to get recognition from the Edo State Government.

“This fascist tactic is a grand betrayal of Edo people who bore the brunt of the brutish, destructive, deadly and asphyxiating gambits of the most insolent, irresponsible, devious, selfish, evil, soulless and brutal unionists.

“The decision to strike and plunge Edo people into physical and spiritual darkness was not sudden. It was planned. Organized. And executed with clinical deviousness.

“Why did they not warn Edo people to make alternative arrangements?

“Why ambush innocent, poor, hapless citizens just to prove a useless point to officials who have surrounded themselves with generators, filling stations loads of free fuel, diesel, and solar power systems?

“These unionists did not punish government. They punished the barber whose clipper needed light. They punished the cold room owner whose fish rotted. They punished the student reading for exams with a torch. They punished the patient on oxygen in a private clinic. They punished the poor. Shame on you guys. History will not absolve you.

“Government officials slept under AC powered by government diesel. The poor man slept in darkness and heat.

“That is not unionism. That is terrorism against the poor. Economic assassination.

“You can not plunge 5 million people into darkness for 6 days to settle a political score in Abuja and expect us to clap for you.

“Edo people must now demand a law: No union, no company, no politician has the right to weaponize darkness against citizens.

“Enough is Enough.”

Jefferson Uwoghiren, Esq.