…Union calls for review, alleges victimization of youth and officials
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has condemned the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company’s (AEDC) recent dismissal of 800 workers, calling the move a breach of agreements reached with the unions.
According to the union, the restructuring exercise, which AEDC claimed was aimed at improving customer service and operational efficiency, failed to follow the principles of mutual trust and collaboration agreed upon with union representatives.
AEDCstated that the exercise targeted high-performing staff for promotion while releasing retirees and employees who reportedly underperformed, as part of its ongoing corporate transformation to become more agile and customer-focused.
However, NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, described the scale of the layoffs as excessive and insensitive given the current economic situation and existing manpower shortages in the company. He called for a full review of the restructuring exercise in line with the Memorandum of Understanding with the unions.
“The number involved is unacceptably high considering the economic realities and the workforce gap within AEDC. Some employees listed for retrenchment should not have been affected,” Igwebike said. He also suggested that claims of underperformance may stem from inadequate tools and a lack of a conducive work environment.
The union further warned that younger employees were disproportionately affected, noting that over 60 percent of those sacked fall within the youth category, raising concerns about the long-term social and economic impact on households and communities. Igwebike also alleged that the exercise appeared to target union officials, with more than 70 percent of union leaders across AEDC’s four state councils and 21 chapters affected.
NUEE demanded a detailed review of all affected staff, including a “line-by-line audit of performance records and disciplinary history,” and requested the establishment of a joint committee with AEDC to oversee the appeals and mitigation process.
“While the union remains committed to protecting workers’ rights, we urge AEDC management to harness the potential of its workforce to achieve the desired productivity,” Igwebike added.
