The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has accused the Edo State Government of being behind a night operation in Benin City that allegedly led to the arrest and assault of electricity workers, leaving the state chairman of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Comrade William Uwumarogie, hospitalised.
The labour congress disclosed in a press release dated October 23, 2026, titled “Edo Government Bringing Shame to Nigeria!”, that Uwumarogie and different union members arrested on Thursday, October 22, had been launched.
The assertion, signed by the NLC Acting General Secretary, Comrade Benson Upah, stated Uwumarogie was present process medical therapy for accidents he allegedly sustained through the operation on the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, headquarters on Akpakpava Road.
According to the NLC, army personnel and suspected thugs had been concerned within the operation, throughout which the workers had been allegedly apprehended whereas preserving watch in defence of their livelihoods amid an ongoing industrial dispute.
The congress condemned the incident, describing the alleged arrests and assault as illegal and accusing the state authorities of resorting to pressure as an alternative of dialogue to resolve labour-related disagreements. It characterised the motion as an act of state-sponsored banditry.
The NLC stated the incident was related to an industrial dispute involving NUEE, an affiliate of the congress, which had embarked on industrial motion over calls for for improved working situations and employment phrases.
It maintained that the disagreement ought to have been resolved via negotiations and established industrial relations procedures fairly than the alleged deployment of pressure towards union members.
The congress additionally pointed to what it described as a sample of hostility in the direction of organised labour in Edo State, citing the alleged illegal occupation of its state secretariat by the federal government. According to the NLC, the matter had drawn the eye of the International Labour Organization, ILO.
It additional questioned the federal government’s conduct, alleging that its representatives had requested extra time to deal with industrial relations points with the NLC throughout a gathering with the Federal Government in Abuja on Wednesday night, whilst preparations for the alleged operation had been happening in Benin City.
The labour physique expressed concern over the obvious contradiction, asking why the federal government would search extra time to barter and allegedly resort to a night raid towards union members inside hours of the assembly.
The NLC listed 5 calls for, urging the Edo State Government to apologise for the alleged violence towards the workers, discontinue the use of pressure in industrial disputes, cease actions it stated had been damaging Nigeria’s popularity, finish the alleged diversion of workers’ check-off dues, and be certain that Uwumarogie and different injured workers obtain enough medical consideration.
It stated Governor Monday Okpebholo can be held personally answerable for the workers’ full restoration.
The congress additionally urged the army management to research the incident and self-discipline any personnel discovered to have participated within the operation. It warned that utilizing troopers to hold out illegal arrests might undermine the popularity and integrity of the army.
Reaffirming its backing for NUEE, the NLC declared solidarity with the union and stated its associates and civil society allies had been positioned on pink alert.
