By Ibraheem Hamza Muhammad
Staff of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in Niger State have shut down power supply across the state in a protest for poor remuneration and staff welfare.
Chairman of the Niger State Chapter of Electricity Employers Union, (EEU ), Mr Sunday Machinga, said the industrial action was as a result of the Management refusal to act on the demand the affected Staff of the company.
“We are fighting for the deduction of our pention which has not been remitted to the source for months, other deductions of the Unioin, non increament of salary, lack of promotions since inception of the Company, in addition to lack of adequate working tools”. added Machinga
Comrade Muazu ibrahim, Vice Chairman of the Niger State Chapter of the Union further added that the shut down action which is indefinite would continue iif the management are not ready to settled the workers demands.
Mr Adeleke Odusoya a small scale business man in Minna the Niger State Capital, lamented on how the power shortage would crippled his printing business activities if power is not restored on time.
“This type of strike will always affect the final consumer, it’s uncalled for as an entrepreneur, I know what I’m saying. the employers should do the needful for the power service to be restored, added Adeleke.
Lawal Sulaimam who is an electronic technician in Minna also says”I came to lodge a complained on my prepaid meter which was just installed yesterday, and nobody to attend to me as the maingate was locked down.
Abuja Electricity distribution company AEDC is one of the 11 power distribution companies that was privatized and handed over to Kanna uitility Limited in 2013 with 60 percent equity holder while The Nigerian government holds 40 percent
“AEDC has a franchise for the distribution and sale of electricity across an area of 133,000 km2 in the Federal Capital Territory, Niger State, Kogi State and Nassarawa State in North Central Nigeria.”
