Activities in the Ogun State office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) have been put on hold and electricity workers commenced an indefinite strike over minimum wage and staff welfare. Staff members of the Ogun state office of the IBEDC were seen walking aimlessly around the gate to the premises with no access to their workplace, customers who had also come to transact business were turned down and refused service.
Reason for the Strike
The Ogun state office has accused the management of non-implementation of the new minimum wage, non-remittance of pension and cooperative deductions, and an alleged disengagement of 17 staff among other staff welfare concerns. The Vice President of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Lagos/Ogun Zone, Abiodun Shobayo speaking on the strike action said that the workers had no choice but to embark on an indefinite strike given the unwillingness of the IBEDC management to attend to their concerns.
Workers Concerns and Demand
The controversy centers around IBEDC’s failure to remit billions of naira in pension and cooperative deductions, and failure to pay interest on these withheld funds. They alleged that personal funds have been used to cover company expenses, including electricity repairs and bill distribution.
Additionally, the workers are demanding a full implementation of the new minimum wage, they alleged a refusal from the management to engage in meaningful negotiations on a new wage system, citing a lack of funds. The workers also condemn the recent arbitrary dismissal of 17 employees, without adhering to established conditions of service. Drawing parallels to recent layoffs at Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC), where 900 employees were dismissed, the workers are determined to prevent similar actions at IBEDC.
Union Statement and Resolve
The Electricity Employees union has said that the strike, affecting IBEDC franchises across the six South-West states, Kwara, and Kogi, will continue until the following demands are met: immediate payment of all outstanding monies; and the reinstatement of all recently dismissed workers. The workers highlight the high proportion of casual staff (70%) within the company, calling for improved employment practices.
Conclusion
There is little hope for power supply in the affected regions as the union has stated their resolve to continue the strike until all their demands are fulfilled.
“We’ve been patient for nine months, but enough is enough. We will not end this strike until the management addresses our grievances.”
