The Ogun State office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has been shut down as electricity workers began an indefinite strike over issues related to minimum wage and staff welfare. The workers claim that the strike is necessary due to the non-implementation of the new minimum wage, non-remittance of pension and cooperative deductions, and the alleged dismissal of 17 employees, among other concerns regarding staff welfare.
As observed in Abeokuta, workers gathered at the gate of the premises while customers were denied service. Abiodun Shobayo, the Vice President of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Lagos/Ogun Zone, stated that the workers had no choice but to take this action due to the IBEDC management’s refusal to address their concerns.
“We have been speaking to the management for about nine months, but nothing has changed. Our pensions and cooperative deductions, which amount to billions of naira, have not been remitted. We have been forced to use our own funds to maintain the company’s operations, fix electricity faults, and distribute bills,” he explained.
Shobayo further criticized the management for not implementing the new minimum wage and for their unwillingness to negotiate, citing claims of insufficient funds. He also expressed concern over the indiscriminate termination of employees, with 17 staff already affected. He warned against the possibility of a situation similar to the recent mass layoffs at the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, where 900 employees were let go.
He emphasized that 70% of the workforce consists of casual staff, which he deemed unacceptable. The strike will continue indefinitely until the management agrees to resolve the issues. The strike is affecting all IBEDC franchises across the South-West, Kwara, and Kogi states.
