Electricity supply has been disrupted across Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states following an industrial action by workers of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), with civil society organisations in Edo threatening mass protests if the blackout is not urgently resolved.
The strike, which led to the shutdown of BEDC facilities, followed unresolved labour disputes involving salary harmonisation, minimum wage implementation, promotions and alleged threats of job cuts.
The Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed the workers, urging BEDC management to return to the negotiating table and address their grievances.
Management representatives and union officials were meeting to resolve the dispute. A senior BEDC employee, however, told Vanguard that workers’ emoluments had recently been reviewed.
Amid the worsening power situation, civil society organisations in Edo State have issued a 12-hour ultimatum to BEDC and the Edo State Government to intervene and restore electricity supply.
The groups expressed concern over the impact of the blackout on households, businesses and other electricity-dependent activities, warning that residents should not be made to suffer the consequences of an unresolved labour dispute.
They demanded urgent engagement between BEDC management and the striking workers, insisting that the dispute must be resolved without further delay.
The CSOs warned that failure to address the situation within 12 hours would force them to mobilise residents for a mass protest against the continued blackout.
The disruption has heightened concerns among business owners and residents who depend on stable electricity for daily operations, with the possibility of prolonged outages threatening economic activities across the affected states.
The immediate challenge now rests on BEDC management, labour representatives and the relevant government authorities to reach an agreement that will end the industrial action and restore power to affected communities.
Will BEDC and the Edo State Government meet the ultimatum, or will residents take to the streets in protest?
