Kano and its surroundings may soon be without electricity as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) shut down Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) operations.
Union members picketed KEDCO offices in Kano early yesterday, effectively shutting down all official activity indefinitely. Speaking with journalists at the KEDCO headquarters, the NUEE North-West Chairman, Ado Riruwai, bemoaned management’s refusal to remit workers’ 72-month pension payments.
Furthermore, Riruwai, who accused KEDCO management of continuing to victimise workers, particularly union leaders, said that the energy distribution business has neglected to adopt a healthcare package, welfare, and improved working conditions for its employees.
Meanwhile, when reached, Sani Bala, a spokesperson for KEDCO, disputed that the management owed any money to pension-related staff, but argued that some of the claims had already been paid.
He said that the KEDCO’s new management inherited a sizable amount of unpaid worker benefits but claimed that the story has subsequently altered during the previous eight months.
In addition to the inherited liabilities, the spokesperson said that the new management has made sure that payments were made on time. Bala, who urged workers to be patient with their requests, assured them that the new managing director would take the initiative to deal with the problem.
cc: Guardian Ng
