Operations at the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) were disrupted on Tuesday as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) picketed the company’s headquarters in Abuja over the disengagement of nearly 900 workers.
The union issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the company to reverse the move or face a complete shutdown of its operations.
Led by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, labour leaders barricaded the premises, accusing the company of deceitfully carrying out a mass layoff after initially assuring the union that only staff due for retirement would be affected.
“We intervened based on the understanding that only those at retirement age would exit. But majority of those sacked were nowhere near retirement—some had worked for just two to five years. That is the height of deceit,” Ajaero said.
He revealed that the union had been in discussions with the company for months, after AEDC management promised to review the exercise, but claimed that the engagements were handled “in a lukewarm manner.”
Tension escalated when NLC officials arrived for a scheduled meeting only to find that AEDC’s Managing Director was absent. Ajaero described the development as evidence of management’s lack of seriousness.
“This matter has gone beyond a zonal concern to a national issue,” he declared.
Following the breakdown of discussions, labour leaders mobilised workers to occupy the company’s premises, forcing many staff members to vacate their offices.
The NLC then issued a 48-hour deadline for AEDC to revisit the mass sack or face industrial action that could affect power supply across the Federal Capital Territory.
“If nothing is done, we cannot guarantee power supply. If workers stay at home, the system will naturally be affected,” Ajaero warned, adding that all AEDC operational zones would be impacted.
Ajaero also criticised the operations of electricity distribution companies, accusing them of exploiting consumers while disregarding labour rights.
“In Abuja, almost 90 per cent of electricity billing is estimated, yet supply is poor. Nigerians are being exploited under a system that rewards inefficiency,” he said.
He condemned the electricity banding system, which he argued had created uneven access to electricity, and criticised power generation companies for seeking government bailouts despite allegedly owing over ₦5 billion in unpaid union dues.
The NLC President warned that continued violations of labour laws in the power sector could lead to widespread industrial unrest.
“They came into a system where workers already had rights, and now their first objective is to dehumanise those workers. They need to think twice,” he said.
The union demanded that AEDC publish the full list of affected workers, including their years of service and reasons for disengagement.
It also raised concerns over staff welfare, poor working conditions, and stalled promotions within the company.
Ajaero condemned the company’s approach to labour issues, describing it as “perpetual dialogue without implementation.”
“Those unjustly sacked must have their cases revisited. We are only asking that the law be followed,” he said, urging workers to remain united as the dispute intensifies.
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