By Joyce Ekeh
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Edo State Government have reached a peace agreement to end their prolonged dispute, with the government agreeing to recognise the NLC caretaker committee in the state and organised labour moving to facilitate the restoration of electricity supply.
The agreement followed a meeting brokered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) at his residence on Friday, October 23, 2026.
As part of the resolution, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) is expected to take steps towards restoring electricity to Edo State, which has been without power since Monday.
The NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, disclosed the outcome of the meeting, which was attended by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; former governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole; and the Minister of Labour and Employment.
Upah said the agreement had resolved the longstanding disagreement over the state government’s refusal to recognise the NLC caretaker committee in Edo State.
He 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 ended.
“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.”
According to him, the governor also agreed to ensure that check-off dues are remitted to the NLC through the appropriate channels.
The agreement further provides for the immediate reopening of the NLC secretariat in Edo State, which had remained locked amid the dispute.
“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,” Upah stated.
He added that normal statutory relations between the state government and the labour movement would resume with immediate effect.
As part of efforts to consolidate the agreement, Upah said Governor Okpebholo 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.
On electricity restoration, the NLC official said the labour movement had undertaken to facilitate the return of power to the state.
“On the NLC’s part, NUEE is to restore power to Edo State as soon as practicable,” he said.
The dispute had previously escalated, with the NLC accusing the state government of actions it described as interference, intimidation and bullying of organised labour.
Upah said the Congress had petitioned the International Labour Organisation (ILO) over the disagreement.
“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 latest agreement is expected to ease tensions between the state government and organised labour, restore the NLC’s operations in Edo State and pave the way for electricity supply to resume.
However, the implementation of the resolutions, particularly the recognition of the caretaker committee and the restoration of electricity, will be crucial to sustaining the truce.
