Staff members of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) have initiated an indefinite strike following a series of protests over alleged unjust treatment and unresolved industrial disputes with the management of the company.
The protest, spearheaded by aggrieved members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), saw placard-carrying demonstrators blockading the entrance to the company’s headquarters in the Kaduna State capital. This action effectively halted access for both staff members and customers.
Key among the grievances highlighted by the protesters are issues surrounding the non-remittance of six years’ worth of pension funds, non-payment of death benefits for deceased staff, outstanding exit packages, and what they deem as unjust terminations of employment. The latter pertains specifically to seven staff members from Zaria, whose employment was allegedly terminated without fair consideration following a tragic incident involving a malfunctioning power equipment resulting in the electrocution of 14 residents.
During the protest, Ayuba Pukat, the Organising Secretary for the North West region of NUEE, voiced the frustrations of the workers, emphasizing the long-standing neglect of staff welfare concerns. Pukat condemned the inadequate provision of equipment necessary for carrying out their duties and decried alleged threats made against the protesting workers by deploying Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers to disperse them.
In response to the strike, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, the Head of Corporate Communications for KEDCO, labeled the action by NUEE as unnecessary and detrimental to the company’s well-being. Abdullahi stressed that the management had been engaged in discussions with union leaders to address all outstanding issues, including pension remittances and historical liabilities.
Despite assurances from management regarding plans to settle financial obligations, the strike persists, with workers adamant in their demand for immediate action to rectify their grievances.
