…Gives two-week ultimatum to shutdown operations
By Clement Nwoji, Abuja
Two labour unions in electricity supply industry, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and its senior counterpart, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) have drawn battle line against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over breaches of contractual agreements.
The unions, NUEE and SSAEAC, have respectively resolved to resume their earlier suspended strike over non-implementation of agreements reached with the AEDC since November 5th, 2024 and 27th of November, 2024, respectively, despite
AEDC’s record of increased cash collection of over N98 billion within the last three months.
The unions’ indication to resume industrial action after two weeks without further notice was conveyed to the AEDC’s Managing Director/CEO in letters signed by NUEE’s Assistant General Secretary, Liaison, Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon and SSAEAC’s
Deputy General Secretary (Corporate Communications), Rosemary Odeh.
It was dated 3rd June and 4th June, 2025, respectively and made available to Journalists as the unions have commenced mobilisation of its members across the AEDC franchise areas of Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and FCT for an effective action.
The 13-point grievances advanced by NUEE for resuming industrial action without further notice are: Non-Remittance of Pension deduction for 16 months, Non-Implementation of the National Minimum wage, Non-Promotion and the continuous stagnation of members of staff for over 10 years, Non-Confirmation of staff on Acting Appointment, Non-Regularization and proper placement of Appointments, Refusal to convert Ad-hoc staff to permanent status and The complete collapse of health services owing to the non-payment of Hospitals bills.
Other grievances are: Non-Remittance of 10 Months PAYE, Refusal to complete the work on Review of Conditions of Service, Non-Implementation of the already completed work on Career Path, Undue Board’s Interference with the Day to Day running of the company, Non-Payment of union check off dues and other third-party deductions and Non-Payment of 2024 Productivity Bonus.
According to NUEE in its letter, “It is worthy of note to remind you that workers, within the last 90 Days have raised the company’s collection by over 95 billion. This milestone was achieved through dedicated services without the provision of necessary working materials, Business Districts are no longer funded.
“It is also worthy of note that we have significantly lost a huge number of members to death owing to pressure and precarious work conditions.
“Consequent upon the above, you are hereby put on notice of our readiness to resume the suspended action on the 27th November, 2024, and this shall commence anytime from the date of the receipt of this letter without an additional notice.”
On its part, the SSAEAC’s grievances also include 11-point unresolved issues as follows: Complete collapse of the health services as a result high indebtedness which has resulted in the death of about 7 staff in the last one month and the likelihood of losing more, Non-payment of 2024 productivity bonus, Non-payment of 18 months pension deduction, Non-implementation of the National minimum wage, Inconclusive review of conditions of service and Non-regularization and proper placement of staff.
Other issues include Non-confirmation of staff on acting appointment, Refusal to conduct promotion since 2013, Non-implementation of career path, Non-remittance of third party deduction (Union check off dues) and Refusal to fund Business Districts and non-procurement of operational materials.
SSAEAC further declared that “In view of all the above, your Management is hereby put on notice to resolve all the outstanding issues within one week of receipt of this letter without any further notice as this will no longer be accepted by our Association.”
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