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 statement dated October 23, 2026, titled “Edo Government Bringing Shame to Nigeria!”, that Uwumarogie and other union members arrested on Thursday, October 22, had been released.
The statement, signed by the NLC Acting General Secretary, Comrade Benson Upah, said Uwumarogie was undergoing medical treatment for injuries he allegedly sustained during the operation at the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, headquarters on Akpakpava Road.
According to the NLC, military personnel and suspected thugs were involved in the operation, during which the workers were allegedly apprehended while keeping watch in defence of their livelihoods amid an ongoing industrial dispute.
The congress condemned the incident, describing the alleged arrests and assault as unlawful and accusing the state government of resorting to force instead of dialogue to resolve labour-related disagreements. It characterised the action as an act of state-sponsored banditry.
The NLC said the incident was connected to an industrial dispute involving NUEE, an affiliate of the congress, which had embarked on industrial action over demands for improved working conditions and employment terms.
It maintained that the disagreement should have been resolved through negotiations and established industrial relations procedures rather than the alleged deployment of force against union members.
The congress also pointed to what it described as a pattern of hostility towards organised labour in Edo State, citing the alleged unlawful occupation of its state secretariat by the government. According to the NLC, the matter had drawn the attention of the International Labour Organization, ILO.
It further questioned the government’s conduct, alleging that its representatives had requested additional time to address industrial relations issues with the NLC during a meeting with the Federal Government in Abuja on Wednesday evening, even as preparations for the alleged operation were taking place in Benin City.
The labour body expressed concern over the apparent contradiction, asking why the government would seek more time to negotiate and allegedly resort to a night raid against union members within hours of the meeting.
The NLC listed five demands, urging the Edo State Government to apologise for the alleged violence against the workers, discontinue the use of force in industrial disputes, stop actions it said were damaging Nigeria’s reputation, end the alleged diversion of workers’ check-off dues, and ensure that Uwumarogie and other injured workers receive adequate medical attention.
It said Governor Monday Okpebholo would be held personally responsible for the workers’ full recovery.
The congress also urged the military leadership to investigate the incident and discipline any personnel found to have participated in the operation. It warned that using soldiers to carry out unlawful arrests could undermine the reputation and integrity of the military.
Reaffirming its backing for NUEE, the NLC declared solidarity with the union and said its affiliates and civil society allies had been placed on red alert.
