Kaduna DisCo to restore power after resolving dispute with labour unions

The management of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KADEDO) has  agreed to immediately restore electricity to the state, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi after resolving its conflict with workers.

In a statement on Saturday, KADEDO said the resolution followed a crisis meeting convened by Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, on Friday at his office.

On January 3, the Kaduna state council of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) embarked on an indefinite strike, protesting the alleged dismissal of 900 staff members from the distribution company (DisCo).

Denying the claim in a statement on January 4, Abdulhazeez Abdullahi, KAEDCO spokesperson, clarified that only 450 employees were affected by the downsizing.

The industrial action had left Kaduna and its franchise states in darkness for nearly a week.

On January 6, Hadiza Balarabe, the deputy governor of Kaduna, appealed to the DisCo and striking workers to resolve their dispute and restore electricity to the state.

Providing updates, the Kaduna DisCo said at the end of the meeting, the governor assured both parties of fairness and pledged to act as a guarantor in ensuring a just resolution to the dispute.

“The Unions praised the Governor for his intervention. They also commended  the Management, ably led by Dr Hashidu, for moving Kaduna Electric forward,” the statement reads.

KAEDCO said the unions also acknowledged the challenging economic conditions affecting Kaduna electric’s operations and pledged their support to help the company succeed.

The DisCo said both the management and labour unions recognised that the dispute resulted from a breakdown in communication and agreed that a “give-and-take” approach was necessary to reach an amicable settlement.

The resolution was signed by Umar Abubakar Hashidu, managing director of the electricity company; Wisdom Nwachukwu, vice-president (distribution) of the NUEE; and Rilwanu Shehu, deputy president (north) of the senior staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).

Other union members that signed the resolution include Muhammed Musa, deputy president (north) of NUEE; Haruna Ahmed Tinau, deputy secretary general (north); and Idris Ahmed Idris, managing director of Kaduna Power Supply Company.