The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has threatened to shut down electricity operations across Abuja and surrounding areas following a dispute with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, over the alleged illegal sacking of about 900 workers.
The warning came on Tuesday as NLC leaders, led by its President, Joe Ajaero, stormed the headquarters of AEDC in protest, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to the company to reverse the dismissals or face a total shutdown of operations.
Ajaero described the mass sacking as “the height of deceit,” alleging that many of the affected workers were neither due for retirement nor properly disengaged in line with labour laws.
According to him, the dispute began about six months ago when AEDC reportedly informed the union that only retiring staff would be affected. He said the union initially did not oppose the move based on that understanding.
However, findings by the union revealed that a large number of those disengaged had only spent a few years in service, with some reportedly working for just two to three years.
“A majority of those affected were not at retirement age. Some had not even spent up to five or six years in service. That is unacceptable,” Ajaero said.
The NLC president also expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend within the power sector, warning that other distribution companies might adopt similar measures if left unchecked.
Tensions escalated when union leaders arrived for a scheduled meeting with AEDC management but met the absence of the company’s Managing Director, a development Ajaero said reflected a lack of seriousness in resolving the matter.
He accused the company of engaging in prolonged discussions without implementation, describing it as a “policy of perpetual dialogue.”
Following the protest, activities at the AEDC headquarters were disrupted as workers reportedly vacated their offices.
Ajaero warned that failure to address the issue within the stipulated 48 hours would lead to a withdrawal of services by workers, which could significantly affect electricity supply.
“If workers are not at their duty posts, the system will naturally be affected. We cannot guarantee power supply if nothing is done,” he said.
The NLC also criticised the electricity billing system, claiming that a large percentage of consumers in Abuja are subjected to estimated billing without corresponding power supply.
It further faulted power generation companies for allegedly seeking government bailouts while failing to meet obligations to workers, including the payment of union dues.
The labour union has demanded that AEDC publish the list of affected workers, including their years of service and reasons for their disengagement, to ensure transparency.
Ajaero maintained that the union’s demands were within the ambit of the law, insisting that employers must comply with labour regulations.
“This is not just about AEDC. It is about protecting workers’ rights across the sector. If this is not addressed, it will have wider consequences,” he said.
The NLC vowed to escalate its actions if the company fails to respond within the given deadline.
