…As blackout looms in FCT, Kogi, others over electricity unions threat
By Charles Ebi
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company ,AEDC, has expressed optimism that an impending industrial action by electricity workers will be averted.
The company said its management will intensify dialogue with union leaders to resolve outstanding labour issues.
The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies ,SSAEAC, and the National Union of Electricity Employees ,NUEE, had threatened to resume a previously suspended industrial action over a backlog of unpaid staff entitlements and deteriorating working conditions.
In their separate letters addressed to the Managing Director of AEDC, Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye, the two unions expressed deep frustration over the company’s continued failure to fulfil its obligations to workers.
The unions also accused AEDC of reneging on agreements reached in November 2024, which had led to the suspension of earlier strike actions.
But the AEDC’s MD in a statement he issued in Abuja on Thursday, acknowledged receipt of a notice of industrial action and assured stakeholders that it has begun constructive engagement with representatives of the workers’ union.
He expressed confidence that, through continued negotiation and open communication, disruptions to electricity supply within the AEDC franchise area, which includes the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa states, will be avoided.
Okwuokenye said the company would settle all the legitimate allowances owed to its staff.
He called on all parties to allow the ongoing negotiations to progress without disruption, stressing its unwavering commitment to amicable resolution.
“The management has been engaging constructively with the union representatives regarding the notice of industrial action.
“We are committed to ensuring that all legitimate allowances owed to staff are settled promptly, subject to our financial processes and regulatory compliance.
“We have already initiated dialogue with the union leadership to address their concerns transparently and to seek a mutually agreeable resolution.
“We are confident that, through continued negotiation and open communication, we will find a way to avert any disruption to our operations and to uphold our commitment to the welfare of our employees.
“Our employees are at the heart of all we do, and their well-being and well-being is paramount to management”, he said.
At the time of filing this report, the union officials had not issued a final statement on whether the planned strike would proceed.
AljazirahNigeria had reported that they have been rising Tension in the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company ,AEDC, as two of its major labour unions issued ultimatums to the company’s management.
The unions have threatened to resume a previously suspended industrial action over a backlog of unpaid staff entitlements and deteriorating working conditions.
In two separate letters addressed to the Managing Director of AEDC, Christopher Ezeafulukwe, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies ,SSAEAC, and the National Union of Electricity Employees ,NUEE, expressed deep frustration over the company’s continued failure to fulfil its obligations to workers.
The unions also accused AEDC of reneging on agreements reached in November 2024, which had led to the suspension of earlier strike actions.
However, with no progress made seven months later, both unions have now given the company a final one-week ultimatum to resolve the pending issues or face a full-scale resumption of industrial action across the utility’s franchise areas of Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The letters itemise a wide range of unresolved staff welfare issues, including non-payment of the 2024 productivity bonus, non-remittance of pension deductions for up to 18 months, and non-implementation of the national minimum wage.
Their grievances also include stagnation in staff promotions, some dating back to 2013; collapse of the company’s health services, which unions claim has led to the death of at least seven employees in the past month; and failure to regularise staff on acting appointments and ad-hoc status, among others.
They also argued that these failures are particularly unjustifiable given what they claim is a significant leap in the company’s revenue performance, citing over ₦95bn in collections within the last three months alone.
“Suffice it to state that the tremendous improvement in cash collections was made possible through the commitment and dedication of the entire workforce”, SSAEAC noted in its letter signed by Rosemary Odeh, Deputy General Secretary ,Corporate Communications.
Also, the NUEE, in its correspondence signed by Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Assistant General Secretary ,Liaison, has instructed its councils in the four AEDC franchise states to begin full mobilisation of members in preparation for a mass action.
“The struggle shall be sustained until victory is achieved, as a people united can never be defeated”, the letter concluded.
Both unions insisted that the strike action could commence at any time upon receipt of the letters by AEDC management, and no further notice would be given.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the AEDC management has not issued a formal response to the latest union threats.
