Kaduna DisCo: Union Threatens Strike Over 900 Workers Dismissal

Kehinde Fajobi

The industrial dispute at Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KADECO) over the sacking of 900 workers has entered its third day, crippling operations with no resolution in sight.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has given KADECO until January 10 to reinstate the affected workers or face nationwide industrial action.

KADECO dismissed the employees on Monday, promising to pay their entitlements without specifying a timeline.

In a statement, NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, condemned the mass layoffs, calling them a “flagrant violation” of the company’s conditions of service and Section 20 of the Nigeria Labour Act.

“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, which requires an employer to notify the Trade Union or workers’ representative of the reasons for and the extent of the redundancy before terminating the employment of its staff on account of redundancy,” the statement read.

NUEE also accused KADECO of multiple labour violations, including failing to provide medical services, refusing to implement agreements, withholding five years’ worth of pension deductions, delaying retirement benefits, and stagnating promotions for over five years.

“We demand the KADECO Management to withdraw these sack letters, rescind its earlier decision and return to status quo ante and be ready to address all outstanding labour 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,” Igwebike stated.

He warned that if KADECO failed to reinstate the workers by February 10, the union would escalate protests nationwide.

“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,” he added.

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