The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the dispute between the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over a prolonged disruption of electricity supply in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.
The House warned that the continued blackout could threaten lives, cripple businesses and disrupt essential services, including healthcare, water supply, telecommunications, banking and education.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Clement Jimbo, a member of the House from Akwa Ibom State, who raised concerns about the far-reaching consequences of the dispute for residents and businesses in the four states.
Presenting the motion, Jimbo said the prolonged interruption of electricity supply posed a serious threat to public safety and socio-economic activities, particularly in facilities that depend on stable power to function effectively.
He warned that hospitals, laboratories, maternity centres and emergency units could face serious operational challenges, including disruptions to life-support equipment, surgical services and the storage of temperature-sensitive medical supplies.
According to him, sustained power outages could compromise the delivery of healthcare services and expose patients requiring urgent medical attention to additional risks.
The lawmaker also expressed concern about the impact of the blackout on small businesses, public infrastructure and other commercial activities that depend on regular electricity supply.
He noted that households and businesses might struggle to rely on alternative energy sources, particularly solar power, during the rainy season, when reduced sunlight could affect battery charging and electricity generation.
Jimbo therefore called for immediate government intervention to prevent the dispute from escalating and ensure the restoration of electricity supply across the affected states.
Supporting the motion, lawmakers urged the Federal Government, through the relevant electricity-sector authorities, to facilitate an amicable and lasting settlement between NUEE and BEDC.
The House also mandated its Committees on Power and Labour and Employment to investigate the circumstances surrounding the dispute, identify the immediate causes of the disruption and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
It further called on the union and BEDC management to return to the negotiating table and resolve their differences in the interest of electricity consumers.
Pending a lasting resolution, the lawmakers urged the relevant authorities to make alternative electricity arrangements for hospitals, emergency medical facilities and other critical public services to minimise the effects of the blackout.
The disruption has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of essential services and economic activities to prolonged electricity outages across the affected states.
Hospitals depend on reliable power to operate medical equipment, maintain emergency services and preserve medicines and other temperature-sensitive supplies. Small businesses, meanwhile, may incur additional costs running generators or sourcing alternative power, putting further pressure on already stretched operating expenses.
For households, prolonged outages can affect access to water, communication and other basic amenities. Interruptions to telecommunications and banking services could also undermine commercial transactions and disrupt daily economic activities.
The House’s intervention is aimed at securing the restoration of electricity supply while addressing the underlying disagreement between NUEE and BEDC to reduce the likelihood of another disruption.
The lawmakers stressed the need for dialogue and a sustainable resolution, given the potential consequences of prolonged power outages for residents, businesses and critical public institutions in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.
