Mass sackings: Kaduna electricity workers’ strike enters second day
The National Union of Electricity Employees demanded that management revoke the disengagement letters sent to 900 workers as the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company's employees began their second day of an indefinite strike on Tuesday.
Along with additional complaints, such as the failure to pay retirees their unpaid pensions, the absence of proper tools, the failure to promote worthy employees, and the failure to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage, workers' protests of the mass sack have stopped operations at the company.
In an interview with our correspondent in Kaduna, Comrade Sheyin Wakili, the Chairman of NUEE, Kaduna State Council, explained that the union did not object to the layoffs per se, but rather to the way they were carried out without resolving the rights of the impacted employees.
"We don't disagree with the management's decision to disengage staff, but we reject the failure to fulfil legal obligations. The conditions of service stipulate that disengaged staff must receive their full entitlements, which management has refused to pay,” Wakili said.
He disclosed that management first consented to rescind the sack letters during a Monday meeting facilitated by the Department of State Services, but later broke the agreement.
We assured them that we would promptly restore the power supply after the disengagement letters were removed. Not even five minutes will pass. However, management has not listened and is still manipulating our members' means of subsistence," he continued.
Residents and businesses in Kaduna and its franchise states—Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara—are in the dark as a result of the strike.
Wakili insisted that the strike was required to defend workers' rights while expressing regret to customers for the inconvenience.
"We really sorry for any trouble this has caused our clients. But we can't just watch while our members are treated unfairly. We will continue to fight for their rights, regardless of the cost,” he said.
The union vowed to sustain the industrial action until management meets its demands, which include the withdrawal of the disengagement letters, payment of entitlements to affected staff, and improved welfare for workers.
"Until our demands are completely satisfied, we will not give up. We're willing to engage in talks, but we won't be pressured or threatened into sacrificing our members' rights," Wakili emphasised.
The management of Kaduna Electric was not responsive to attempts to get their response.
In response to our correspondent's WhatsApp question, Abdullazeez Abdullahi, Head of Corporate Communication, said, "Hello, I will share a statement with you when it's ready." I appreciate you getting in touch.
