Electricity supply has been disrupted across Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states after workers under the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) shut down key facilities of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over disputes concerning workers’ pay and welfare.
The industrial action began in the early hours of Monday, October 19, affecting the company’s operations across its franchise area, according to reports by Vanguard and The Guardian.
At BEDC’s headquarters in Benin City, Edo State, union officials reportedly prevented staff from entering the premises and shut down vital operational facilities. The disruption forced some employees to leave work early.
The action has raised concerns among residents and businesses that depend on a reliable electricity supply for daily activities.
The dispute centres on workers’ emoluments and welfare packages, although the union had not publicly provided a detailed account of its demands in the reports available at the time of publication.
A senior BEDC staff member, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise at the shutdown, saying the company’s management had recently reviewed workers’ emoluments.
The staff member also alleged that some union members harassed employees who attempted to record their activities. The allegation had not been independently confirmed.
Efforts to reach NUEE’s Edo State Chairman, Williams Uwumarogie, for comments were unsuccessful, according to the reports.
The industrial action has therefore disrupted power supply while key details of the disagreement between the union and the company remain unclear.
The Acting Edo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bernard Egwakide, said the labour centre had previously intervened in the dispute.
He disclosed that NUEE leaders and BEDC management were meeting to find a resolution, adding that the outcome would determine whether the NLC would intervene again.
The discussions are expected to be important in resolving the dispute and restoring normal operations, although no confirmed timetable for the resumption of electricity supply had been announced in the reports.
BEDC distributes electricity across Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states. The shutdown of key operational facilities has consequently affected customers across its service area.
The disruption could affect homes, shops, offices and small businesses that rely on public electricity for lighting, refrigeration, production and other essential activities.
For businesses operating on tight margins, prolonged outages can also increase spending on alternative power sources, including generators and fuel.
As of the latest reports, neither BEDC nor NUEE had publicly confirmed when the shutdown would end or when electricity supply would be fully restored.
The immediate priority remains resolving the labour dispute through negotiations while ensuring that essential electricity services resume as soon as possible.