IBEDC denies strike claims, attributes disruption to NUEE picketing

Workers protest in Ibadan over colleagues’ sack, other issues
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has refuted claims of an ongoing strike, attributing the recent disruption in power distribution to a picketing action by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) over staff termination.

In a statement signed by IBEDC’s Head of Branding and Corporate Communication, Angela Olanrewaju, the firm emphasised its commitment to service delivery and members of staff welfare while clarifying that proper procedures were followed in the termination of the affected workers.

The firm said that the staff members in question were terminated for consistent poor performance in line with the company’s conditions of service, noting that proper procedures were followed in the termination.

Olanrewaju, while highlighting the firm’s continued prioritisation of employees’ well-being despite the prevailing economic challenges in Nigeria, said: “Despite the ongoing economic challenges in the country, IBEDC has consistently paid the full salaries of its employees each month. IBEDC remains dedicated to excellent staff welfare, maintaining a positive work environment and safeguarding the interests of both its employees and stakeholders.”

However, the workers said that the strike was driven by issues that include the non-implementation of the new minimum wage, failure to remit pension and cooperative deductions, the alleged disengagement of 17 staff members, and other staff welfare concerns.

Vice President of NUEE, Lagos-Ogun Zone, Abiodun Shobayo, said that the workers had no choice but to embark on the indefinite strike due to the IBEDC management’s refusal to address their concerns for the past nine months.

Shobayo said that the management was unwilling to implement the new minimum wage or engage in negotiations.

He further alleged that the electricity distribution firm had begun dismissing workers indiscriminately without adhering to the stipulated conditions of service.

Meanwhile, electricity workers in Ibadan, yesterday, staged a protest against the sack of 17 colleagues and the casualisation of workers without formal employment.

The workers, who occupied the IBEDC office in the Ring Road area, alleged that some employees had worked as casual workers for years and received meagre salaries without prospects of full employment.

They claimed that the sack of their colleagues by IBEDC was done without due consultation and violated labour laws, which require union members to be consulted before downsizing.

Responding, Olanrewaju said that the sacked employees were placed on probation for several months before being let go due to a lack of improvement.

She said that the company has no casual workers as their duties have been outsourced.