In a landmark settlement, the Edo State Government has agreed to recognise the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) caretaker committee, ending a protracted dispute that left the state in a prolonged power outage. The truce, brokered on Friday, 23 October 2026, also paves the way for the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to restore electricity to the region.
The agreement was reached after a meeting at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s (SGF) residence, attended by Governor Godwin Obaseki, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, former Governor and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and the Minister of Labour and Employment. Acting NLC General Secretary Benson Upah said the discussion ended the long‑running dispute over the non‑recognition of the NLC caretaker committee in Edo State.
Governor Obaseki accepted the caretaker committee as the lawful representative of the NLC and pledged to ensure that check‑off dues are remitted through the appropriate channels. “The governor also agreed to ensure that check‑off dues are remitted through the appropriate channels to the NLC,” 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,” Upah said. “The governor also agreed to ensure that check‑off dues are remitted through the appropriate channels to the NLC.”
As part of the peace initiative, the NLC secretariat in Edo State, which had been locked and sealed amid the dispute, will reopen immediately. The caretaker committee is also expected to make a courtesy visit to the governor in Benin City, and the NLC will facilitate the restoration of power through NUEE “as soon as practicable.”
Observers note that the dispute stemmed from what the NLC described as anti‑labour actions by the state government, including interference, intimidation and bullying. The NLC had lodged a complaint with the International Labour Organisation, leading to an indictment of Nigeria. The agreement is seen as crucial to restoring normal industrial relations, ensuring proper remittance of dues, and preventing a recurrence of the conflict.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
