EDO CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RESTORATION OF ELECTRICITY, WARNS BEDC AGAINST CONSUMER SUFFERING

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EDO CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RESTORATION OF ELECTRICITY, WARNS BEDC AGAINST CONSUMER SUFFERING

The Edo State Consumer Protection Committee (ESCPC), under the leadership of its Chairman, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture, has condemned the disruption of electricity supply in Edo State following the shutdown of BEDC Electricity Plc facilities by members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), demanding the immediate restoration of power to affected communities.

The Committee expressed concern over the hardship caused by the blackout, questioning why residents, business owners and other electricity consumers should be made to suffer because of a labour dispute between BEDC management and its employees.

“Why should the people of Edo State be plunged into darkness because BEDC and its workers have failed to resolve their internal labour dispute? Why must innocent consumers bear the consequences of disagreements over staff welfare and emoluments when they have no role in creating the problem?” the Chairman queried.

He acknowledged the right of workers to demand fair treatment, improved welfare and appropriate remuneration, stressing, however, that such disputes should be resolved through constructive dialogue and established industrial relations mechanisms without unnecessarily punishing the public.

According to him, electricity is an essential service that supports economic activities, healthcare delivery, education, household needs and the smooth operation of businesses. Prolonged power outages expose consumers to financial losses, damage to perishable goods, increased operating costs and avoidable hardship.

The Chairman therefore called on BEDC management and NUEE leadership to urgently resolve their differences and restore electricity supply to affected areas without further delay.

The Committee is publicly demanding that BEDC restore electricity within 12 hours of this statement and take immediate steps to prevent a recurrence of such disruption.

“We cannot continue to watch consumers suffer because of disputes between a service provider and its employees. BEDC must recognise that its responsibility extends beyond managing its workforce; it also has an obligation to its customers and the communities it serves.

“Consumers deserve reliable service, accountability and fair treatment. The people of Edo State must not be held hostage by an industrial dispute. We demand that BEDC and NUEE return to the negotiating table, resolve their differences and ensure that electricity supply is restored immediately,” the Chairman stated.

He further emphasised that the Committee would document complaints and the impact of the outage on consumers and refer the matter to the appropriate electricity regulatory and enforcement authorities for necessary action, should the disruption persist.

The Chairman warned that the Committee would not hesitate to pursue all lawful avenues within its mandate to protect consumers’ interests, including formally petitioning the competent authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disruption and determine whether any applicable laws, regulations or consumer service obligations had been breached.

The Committee also urged the relevant authorities to monitor the situation and ensure that consumers are not subjected to prolonged service disruption without appropriate accountability.

While calling on residents to remain calm, the Committee appealed to BEDC management and NUEE to prioritise the public interest and resolve the dispute peacefully and expeditiously.

The Edo State Consumer Protection Committee reiterates that electricity consumers must not be made to pay the price for unresolved disputes between service providers and their employees. The Committee remains committed to promoting consumer rights, accountability and fair service delivery across Edo State.

Signed:

Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture
Chairman, 
Edo State Consumer Protection Committee (ESCPC).

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