The management of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has faulted the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by electricity unions, despite what it described as sustained efforts to improve the working conditions of its staff.

The power distribution company insisted that more than 80 per cent of the legacy demands of the unions had already been fulfilled, even in the face of operational challenges inherited by the new investor.
The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) shut down corporate and operational activities across KEDCO stations on Wednesday as they embarked on an industrial action following the expiration of their ultimatum.
The unions said the strike became necessary due to the failure of KEDCO management to settle their outstanding issues relating to workers’ entitlements, some of which have been pending for over 10 years.

The issues in contention, according to the unions, include pension arrears, delayed promotions, death benefits and poor working conditions, an action that has already led to total blackout and economic shutdown in parts of Katsina, Kano and Jigawa states.
Briefing journalists on the development, however, KEDCO Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Shuiabu Jimeta, who believed the impasse was unnecessary, explained that 15 out of 19 months of pension arrears had been paid, while 100 per cent of the death benefits being agitated for had also been paid to affected families.
Dr Jimeta expressed regret over the failed negotiations with the unions, which led to the strike despite what he described as reasonable payment terms proposed by management.

He said the talks broke down after the unions rejected the plan to clear the remaining arrears between January and February 2026.
“We have settled 15 out of 19 months’ allowances, and what is left is four months. The total outstanding is about ₦507 million. We have already paid about ₦25 million. We proposed to clear the balance between January and February, but the unions rejected this.
“They insisted that we must produce the money the same evening the meeting was held and before midnight when their deadline expired. Obviously, that was not possible for management, and as a result, the unions declared a strike,” Jimeta said.

The managing director explained that since the takeover of KEDCO in 2023 by Future Energies Africa, the new management has remained committed to improving service delivery to customers through massive investment in infrastructure and staff welfare.
According to him, KEDCO recently conducted a promotion exercise, the first in over 10 years, with about 1,500 out of the company’s 2,900 staff promoted.
On infrastructure, he cited the installation of a 33kV transformer at the Dawano International Grain Market, which now enjoys up to 23 hours of electricity supply daily.

Jimeta therefore assured customers of the quick restoration of power supply across Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, adding that efforts are being intensified to resume dialogue with the unions to resolve the remaining issues.
He noted that KEDCO remains focused on fulfilling its business mandate to customers while contributing to sustainable social and economic growth and security within its franchise states.