Kaduna residents lament blackout as electricity workers down tools

Residents of Kaduna have expressed frustration and disappointment over the blackout in the state following a strike embarked upon by staff members of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company.

The strike, which began on Sunday midnight, has resulted in a total blackout across the state, disrupting economic and social activities in the state.

“I am a small business owner, and the blackout has affected my business greatly. I urge the government and the management of Kaduna Electric to resolve the issue as soon as possible,” a resident in Chikun LGA of the state, Mrs Gladys Akpo lamented.

Staff members of the KEDC on Monday began an indefinite strike over an alleged plan by the management to sack over 900 employees.

The strike is also to protest non-payment of outstanding pension to retirees, inadequate provision of necessary work tools, lack of promotions for deserving employees, and non-implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage.

The workers, under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees also accused the management of high-handedness and disregard for industrial agreements.

The strike paralyzed activities at the KEDC as workers blocked the entrance of the corporate headquarters, preventing workers and customers from entering the premises.

The Chairman of NUEE, Kaduna State Council, Sheyin Wakili, described the planned sack as “unacceptable” and vowed that the union would resist it.

“The management has terminated the employment of 10 senior staff members without adhering to the company’s conditions of service. Despite our interventions and agreements from previous meetings, these actions have not been fully implemented.

 “To our dismay, we have learnt that the management has initiated the termination of over 900 additional staff members. This is unacceptable, and we will not allow it to happen,” he added.

The Kaduna Electric management had in a letter to the affected workers, dated January 31, 2025, directed them to hand over the company’s property in their possession to the human resources department immediately, while plans to pay them their severance packages were underway.

The letter signed by the Deputy Managing Director of the KADECO, Abubakar Mohammed, notified the affected workers that their services were no longer needed by the company effective from January 31, 2025.

The workers under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees accused the management of high-handedness and fragrant disregard for all industrial agreements.

Other grievances were the alleged failure of the management to provide exit benefits to employees who resigned or retired five years ago.

The management of KADECO is yet to comment on the strike.