The National Union of Electricity Employees has threatened to extend its ongoing strike in Edo State nationwide if security operatives fail to return the personal belongings of two union members allegedly assaulted during a protest in Benin City.
The union issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the security personnel to return the seized phones and other belongings of its Edo State chairman, William Uwumarogie, and another member, Matthew Eromobor.
It also demanded the withdrawal of military and police personnel deployed to the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company on Akpakpava Road, Benin City, warning that failure to meet its demands would trigger a nationwide industrial action.
Uwumarogie and Eromobor were reportedly arrested on Thursday night while union members were keeping vigil at the BEDC headquarters as part of an industrial action over poor remuneration, inadequate safety measures and unfavourable working conditions.
The strike, which began on Monday, initially disrupted electricity supply across Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states, all covered by BEDC.
However, following a meeting in Abuja reportedly mediated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammadu Dingyadi, the union suspended the action in Delta, Ondo and Ekiti, leaving Edo State as the only state still affected.
Addressing journalists on Friday, the NUEE Vice-President, West, David Ehigiamusoe, condemned the alleged treatment of the two members and accused a combined team of military and police personnel of forcefully arresting and assaulting them.
“The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) is disturbed and worried about the Gestapo-style abduction, brutalisation and arrest of the Edo State chairman of NUEE, Comrade William Uwumarogie, and Comrade Matthew Eromobor,” he said.
Ehigiamusoe said the incident occurred between 7.20pm and 8pm on Thursday, October 22, while the workers were keeping watch at the BEDC headquarters in continuation of their protest against unresolved labour disputes with the company’s management.
According to him, the security team arrived in a Toyota Hiace bus and a Hilux vehicle before entering the premises.
He alleged that the operation involved mobile policemen, regular police officers and Nigerian Army personnel who assaulted the two union members before taking them away.
“Their phones and personal belongings were confiscated by the security personnel, and they were treated like armed robbers,” Ehigiamusoe said.
He disclosed that the two men were released at about 1am on Friday, October 23, but were still receiving medical treatment in a hospital following the alleged assault.
The union official also expressed concern over the continued presence of armed security personnel at the BEDC headquarters, describing their deployment as contrary to the resolution reached at the meeting with the labour minister in Abuja.
“This is a clear violation of the conciliatory resolution reached at the meeting with the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment in Abuja, that no worker should be victimised,” he said.
The union directed its members working with BEDC in Edo State to sustain the industrial action until their grievances were addressed.
It also warned the Edo State Government and BEDC management that they would be held responsible for any breakdown of industrial peace arising from the dispute.
“If, after this notice, their personal belongings are not returned and military personnel at BEDC are not withdrawn, we will have no option but to escalate the industrial action nationwide,” the union said.
The threatened expansion of the strike could affect electricity distribution beyond the four states initially covered by the industrial action, should the union proceed with its warning.
