The Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KADECO) is facing a deepening crisis as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened a nationwide shutdown if the company fails to reinstate 900 recently sacked workers by February 10, 2025.
The industrial action by KADECO staff, now in its third day, has brought its operations to a standstill, with no resolution in sight.
The dispute stems from KADECO’s decision to terminate the employment of 900 staff members on Monday, promising to pay their benefits at an unspecified date. The NUEE has condemned the move, calling it a violation of labor laws and international conventions.
In a strongly worded statement, NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, accused KADECO of disregarding labor regulations and failing to engage the union in the decision-making process.
“We wish to draw the attention of the company’s management to the fact that embarking on such mass sack of their staff, who are our members, without recourse to the provision of the company’s conditions of service is an insult to the Union and a flagrant violation and disregard of Section 20 of the Nigeria Labour Act,” Igwebike stated.
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He further emphasized that the action violates the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Convention No. 98, which guarantees the “Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.”
The NUEE also highlighted a series of alleged labor violations by KADECO, including the lack of medical services for workers, failure to implement signed agreements, and non-remittance of five years’ worth of pension deductions to employees’ retirement savings accounts.
The union has demanded that KADECO withdraw the termination letters, reverse its decision, and return to the status quo. It also called for dialogue to address outstanding labor issues.
“We demand the KADECO Management to withdraw these sack letters, rescind its earlier decision, and return to status quo ante. They must be ready to address all outstanding labor issues in the Company with the Union through dialogue and the spirit of collective bargaining to avert the looming danger Management action has posed to the Sector,” the statement read.
The NUEE warned that if its demands are not met by February 10, 2025, it will escalate the protest to all electricity companies across Nigeria, potentially triggering a nationwide shutdown of the power sector.
“Consequently, if by Monday, February 10, 2025, these sacked workers are not recalled and other pending labor issues are not resolved, we shall have no choice but to escalate our protest against this gross injustice to all the electricity companies across the country,” Igwebike declared.
The union also called on the public to hold KADECO accountable for any disruptions to the already fragile electricity sector.
“Nigerians and the general public are therefore put on notice of the impending crisis, and the Management of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company should be held responsible for anything that will happen to the already fragile state of the electricity sector in the country,” the statement concluded.
As the standoff continues, the threat of a nationwide industrial action looms, raising concerns about the potential impact on Nigeria’s power supply and economy.
