A fresh labour crisis has hit Nigeria’s electricity sector as workers under the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) shut down offices of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) in Lagos State over alleged poor working conditions, unpaid entitlements and violations of labour agreements.
The industrial action, which began on Tuesday morning, reportedly disrupted activities at the company’s offices and operational facilities across its franchise area, raising fears of possible challenges in electricity distribution if the dispute lingers.
The union said the shutdown was triggered by what it described as persistent disregard for workers’ welfare and repeated breaches of agreements reached with EKEDC management.
Comrade Dapo Oyewusi, a member of the NUEE Central Executive Council in the Lagos/Ogun Zone, accused the company’s management of failing to address several complaints raised by employees over time.
He alleged that workers had been subjected to poor and unsafe working conditions, with some injection stations and zonal offices operating in environments that were unhealthy and inadequate for staff.
The union also accused EKEDC management of failing to respect Collective Bargaining Agreements reached with workers, alleging that several provisions contained in the agreements had not been implemented.
Oyewusi further alleged that employees had suffered victimisation, discrimination, intimidation and harassment, claiming that some workers were unfairly treated because of their union activities.
The electricity workers also accused the company of carrying out dismissals without proper consultation with the union, as well as imposing disciplinary measures such as suspension and demotion without following agreed labour procedures.
According to the union, some employees had also been arrested allegedly without the involvement or notification of union representatives.
NUEE raised concerns over the alleged failure of EKEDC to provide workers with adequate tools and equipment needed to perform their duties safely, warning that the situation could endanger employees and affect service delivery.
The workers further complained about delays in the payment of salaries, allowances and other entitlements, alongside what they described as an unfriendly working environment.
The latest confrontation adds to a growing list of labour disputes in Nigeria’s power sector, where electricity workers have repeatedly protested over welfare issues, poor working conditions and disagreements with distribution companies.
The union is expected to continue engaging the EKEDC management as pressure mounts for the issues raised by the workers to be resolved.
Don’t Miss Out! Join our WhatsApp Channel for instant news updates. Click here to join
ALSO READ:
Why we demand customers’ tax ID for electricity bills — Ikeja Electric
Electricity company accused of causing patients’ deaths reacts
