There's a possibility of a power blackout in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States.
This is because the labor union, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), picketed the head office of the distribution company on Monday over failed promises.
Nigeria Info witnessed the picketing in Kano and can report that hundreds of the workers stormed the Kano State Distribution Company (KEDCO) headquarters in the early hours of Monday.
Nigeria Info also observed that the aggrieved members stood outside KEDCO’s headquarters holding placards with different inscriptions that read “Pay Our Death Benefits, Stop Victimizing Union Leaders”, amongst others.
The union is demanding the immediate payment of its members’ death benefits, remittance of 72 months' pension, improved working tools, payment of 3 years’ worth of production bonus, and payment of transfer allowances.
Other demands include the partial treatment of staff, urgent payment of exit packages, improved medical services, and the implementation of staff promotion.
Speaking on behalf of the Union, the Vice President of the North West Zone of the NUEE, Comrade Ado Gaya, revealed that its members across the affected State have “shut down KEDCO’s feeder to stop the supply of electricity.”
Comrade Gaya stressed that the union will not reopen the office until KEDCO addresses all its demands.
“Our members have been suffering since the privatization in 2013. So let me be frank with you, we would not reopen the office until they address our major demands,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson of KEDCO in Kano, Sani Bala Sani, in a phone conversation said he would respond to the union’s demands after their emergency meeting.
