Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, and leaders of organised labour have reached an agreement to resolve the dispute over the recognition of the NLC caretaker committee in the state, with electricity supply expected to resume immediately.
The agreement was reached at a closed-door meeting in Abuja convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
The meeting was attended by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; and former Edo State Governor and ex-NLC President, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Governor Okpebholo said the parties had resolved the issues surrounding the NLC caretaker committee and agreed that the state government would recognise the committee while working with labour leaders towards a substantive election.
“There is no issue actually, and we have resolved the issues that border the NLC caretaker committee in Edo,” the governor said.
Ajaero also confirmed the agreement, expressing appreciation to Okpebholo, Akume, Dingyadi and Oshiomhole for their roles in resolving the dispute.
He said organised labour had agreed to work with the state government on the recognition of the caretaker committee, the conduct of a substantive election and the resolution of issues concerning the committee’s rights and privileges.
“Consequently, power will be restored in Edo,” the NLC president said.
Oshiomhole described the disagreement as a communication gap that had now been addressed, adding that the reason for sustaining the industrial action no longer existed.
He also welcomed the governor’s commitment to rebuilding trust between the Edo State Government and organised labour, stressing the need for renewed cooperation to sustain industrial harmony in the state.
In his remarks, Dingyadi said the parties had agreed to work together in the interest of peace and development in Edo State and Nigeria.
The minister disclosed that the NLC would conduct a substantive election in Edo within three to six months.
“The principal issue, which is electricity, is going to be restored immediately,” Dingyadi said.
Akume commended the participants for their willingness to resolve the dispute through dialogue, noting the importance of cooperation in maintaining industrial peace.
The power outage in Edo State followed two related but separate disputes. The first was an industrial disagreement between BEDC Electricity Plc and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) over workers’ salaries and welfare.
The second centred on a leadership dispute involving the Edo State chapter of the NLC, led by Joseph Igbafe, and the recognition of its caretaker committee.
The latest agreement is expected to end the impasse over the labour dispute and facilitate the restoration of electricity supply across the state.
The development was disclosed in a press release issued on Saturday, October 24, 2026, by Dr Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo.
