NLC Pickets Abuja DisCo Over Sack Of 900 Workers
Tension gripped the headquarters of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, yesterday as the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, staged a dramatic picketing of the facility, protesting the controversial disengagement of nearly 900 workers.
It equally issued a 48-hour ultimatum to management to resolve the crisis or face a total shutdown of operations.
Led by its President, Joe Ajaero, the labour movement accused AEDC of carrying out the mass sack under false pretences, describing the exercise as “the height of deceit” and a dangerous trend in Nigeria’s already fragile power sector.
Ajaero explained that the dispute began about six months ago when AEDC management claimed the disengagement would affect only workers who had reached or were nearing retirement age.
Based on that understanding, the union initially did not oppose the exercise.
However, NLC claimed its investigations revealed that a significant number of those affected were far from retirement, with some having spent as little as two to three years in service.
“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 the height of deceit,” Ajaero declared.
The situation escalated when NLC leaders arrived at the AEDC headquarters for a scheduled meeting with management, only to discover that the Managing Director was absent.
The development prompted the union to immediately call off the meeting and mobilise workers across the premises.
Staff were seen vacating their offices in compliance with the union’s directive, effectively disrupting activities at the facility.
Issuing a stern warning, Ajaero said failure by AEDC to address the matter within 48 hours would lead to a full-scale industrial action capable of crippling electricity supply in the Federal Capital Territory.
“If nothing is done within that time, we cannot guarantee power supply. The workers who keep the system running will stay at home, and if they are not at work, the system will naturally be affected,” he warned.
He added that the action would extend beyond Abuja to all AEDC operational zones if management fails to respond promptly.
“This will not stop here. All AEDC stations will be affected. Operations will be halted until this matter is addressed,” he said.
Beyond the immediate dispute, the NLC president delivered a scathing critique of the power sector, accusing operators of exploiting consumers while flouting labour laws.
“In Abuja today, almost 90 per cent of electricity billing is estimated, yet there is no corresponding supply. Nigerians are being exploited under a system that rewards inefficiency,” he said.
