The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has pledged to promptly settle all legitimate allowances owed to its staff, following threats by workers to shut down operations over unresolved grievances.
The Managing Director and CEO of AEDC, Chijioke Okwuokenye, made the assurance on Thursday in response to an industrial action notice served by the AEDC unions.
The unions representing the workforce threatened to resume a suspended strike due to issues including non-remittance of pension deductions for 16 months, failure to implement the National Minimum Wage, prolonged stagnation and non-promotion of staff for over 10 years, non-confirmation of staff on acting appointments, and failure to regularise appointments.
Letters from the unions, signed by the Assistant General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Liaison Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, and the Deputy General Secretary (Corporate Communications) of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), Rosemary Odeh, declared their intention to commence strike action if demands remain unmet.
The unions cited additional grievances, such as the refusal to convert ad-hoc staff to permanent status, the collapse of health services due to unpaid hospital bills, non-remittance of 10 months’ Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) taxes, interference by the board in daily operations, unpaid union dues and productivity bonuses for 2024, and the adverse impact of working conditions leading to staff deaths.
The unions notified management of their readiness to resume the strike from November 27, 2024, and called for mobilisation across AEDC’s franchise areas covering Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In his response, Okwuokenye emphasised that management is engaging constructively with union representatives and is committed to addressing all concerns transparently.
“Management has been engaging constructively with the union representatives regarding the notice of industrial action. We are committed to ensuring that all legitimate allowances owed to staff are settled promptly, subject to our financial processes and regulatory compliance,” he said.
He added that ongoing dialogue aims to reach a mutually agreeable resolution to prevent disruption of services.
“We are confident that, through continued negotiation and open communication, we will find a way to avert any disruption to our operations and uphold our commitment to the welfare of our employees. Our employees are at the heart of all we do, and their well-being and welfare are paramount to management,” Okwuokenye affirmed.
