The indefinite strike by employees of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (Kaduna Electric) has entered its second day, with the National Union of Electricity Employees insisting that management must revoke the dismissal letters issued to 900 workers.
The industrial action has disrupted power supply in Kaduna and its franchise states—Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara—leaving homes and businesses in darkness.
According to The PUNCH, the chairman of NUEE in Kaduna State, Comrade Sheyin Wakili, clarified that the union is not opposed to staff disengagement but objects to the manner in which it was carried out without settling the entitlements of affected workers.
“We are not against management’s decision to disengage workers, but they must fulfill their legal obligations,” Wakili stated. “The conditions of service require that dismissed staff receive their full entitlements, but management has refused to comply.”
According to him, a meeting mediated by the Department of State Services on Monday initially resulted in an agreement to withdraw the sack letters, but management later backtracked.
“We told them that once the disengagement letters are withdrawn, power supply will be restored immediately—it won’t even take five minutes. But they have refused to listen and continue to jeopardize the livelihoods of our members,” Wakili said.
Despite the hardship caused by the strike, he apologized to customers and defended the action as necessary to safeguard workers’ rights.
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience to our customers, but we cannot remain silent while our members are treated unfairly. We will continue to demand justice, no matter the cost,” he emphasized.
The union has vowed to sustain the strike until its demands are met, including reinstating the dismissed workers, settling outstanding entitlements, and improving workers’ welfare.
“We will not back down until our demands are fully addressed. We remain open to negotiations, but we will not be intimidated or coerced,” Wakili affirmed.
