Staff members of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KADECO) have embarked on an indefinite strike in protest against the management’s alleged plan to dismiss over 900 workers.
The workers are also demanding the payment of five years’ outstanding pensions to retirees, better work tools, promotions for deserving employees, and implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage.
Additional grievances include the non-payment of death benefits to families of deceased staff, improper placement of employees, lack of electricity rebates, and failure to recognize long-serving workers.
According to Daily Trust, Kaduna Electric, in a letter dated January 31, 2025, directed affected employees to return all company property to the human resources department while arrangements for severance packages were ongoing.
The letter, signed by Deputy Managing Director Abubakar Mohammed, informed the workers that their services were no longer needed as of January 31, 2025.
In response, aggrieved workers, under the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), staged a protest on Monday, blocking the entrance to Kaduna Electric’s corporate headquarters and preventing employees and customers from accessing the premises. They accused the management of high-handedness and disregarding industrial agreements.
Speaking to journalists, NUEE Chairman, Kaduna State Council, Comrade Sheyin Nuhu Wakili, condemned the company’s failure to settle exit benefits for employees who resigned or retired five years ago.
He also criticized the abrupt termination of 10 senior staff members without adherence to company policies.
“To our dismay, we have learned that the management has initiated the termination of over 900 additional staff members,” Wakili stated.
