Operations at the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) headquarters in Abuja were disrupted on Tuesday as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) staged a protest over the controversial disengagement of nearly 900 workers, warning the company to resolve the dispute within 48 hours or face a shutdown of operations.
The protest, led by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, saw labour leaders and workers barricade the company’s premises, accusing AEDC management of carrying out the mass sack under what the union described as false pretences.
Ajaero said the labour movement initially agreed not to oppose the disengagement because management had claimed the exercise would only affect workers who had reached retirement age or were close to retirement.
He said, “At that time, the union intervened based on that understanding. No responsible labour leader would oppose the exit of workers who have legitimately reached retirement age.”
However, he explained that investigations by the union later revealed that most of the affected workers were far from retirement.
“A majority of those affected were not at retirement age. Some had not even spent up to five or six years in service. In fact, many had only worked for two to three years. That is the height of deceit.”
According to Ajaero, the labour union had been engaging the company over the issue for months after management promised to revisit the exercise, but the situation remained unresolved.
“What is even more troubling is that other distribution companies are beginning to copy this pattern. That sends a very dangerous signal across the power sector,” he warned.
Tension heightened when labour leaders arrived at the AEDC headquarters for a scheduled meeting with management, but discovered that the Managing Director was absent.
“We came here for a meeting, but the MD was not on seat. Even the engagements at the zonal level have been handled in a very lukewarm manner,” Ajaero explained.
Describing the crisis as one that had escalated beyond a regional concern, the NLC leader said the union could no longer treat the matter as a routine industrial dispute, saying, “This issue has gone beyond a zonal matter to a national concern.”
Following the development, the NLC called off the planned meeting and directed workers to remain on standby while union members mobilised across the company’s premises, forcing many staff members to vacate their offices.
The labour movement subsequently issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the company’s management to address the situation or risk an escalation that could disrupt electricity supply in the Federal Capital Territory.
“If nothing is done within that time, we cannot guarantee power supply. The workers who keep the system running will stay at home, and if they are not at work, the system will naturally be affected,” Ajaero warned.
He added that the planned industrial action would extend beyond the Abuja headquarters to other AEDC operational zones if the dispute was not resolved.
“This will not stop here. All AEDC stations will be affected. Operations will be halted until this matter is addressed.”
The NLC President also used the occasion to criticise the operations of electricity distribution companies, accusing them of exploiting consumers while disregarding labour laws.
“In Abuja today, almost 90 per cent of electricity billing is estimated, yet there is no corresponding supply. Nigerians are being exploited under a system that rewards inefficiency.”
Ajaero further faulted the electricity banding system, saying it had given undue advantages to some distribution companies while worsening disparities in electricity access.
Beyond distribution firms, he also criticised power generation companies, accusing them of seeking huge government bailouts despite failing to meet their obligations to workers.
“Some of them are asking for about ₦6 trillion for what is essentially darkness. At the same time, they are withholding over ₦5 billion in union dues dating back to 2012. How do you demand trillions when you cannot meet your own responsibilities?” he queried.
Ajaero warned that continued disregard for labour laws by employers in the power sector could spark broader industrial unrest.
“If you do not obey labour laws, you cannot expect protection from the same system you disregard.”
He also accused some power sector operators of attempting to erode workers’ rights despite taking over a previously unionised workforce during the privatisation of the sector.
“They came into a system where workers already had rights and protections, and their first objective now is to dehumanise those workers. They need to think twice,” he added.
As part of its demands, the NLC called on AEDC to publicly release the full list of disengaged workers, including their years of service and reasons for termination.
“Let Nigerians see whether the union is being unfair or whether management acted unjustly,” Ajaero said.
The union also raised concerns about staff welfare, poor working conditions and delayed promotions within the company.
Ajaero criticised what he described as endless negotiations without concrete action, saying, “What we are seeing is a policy of perpetual dialogue talks without end and without implementation. That has no place in industrial relations.”
The NLC leader declared that the union would no longer tolerate what he called systemic injustice in the sector.
“The management of AEDC seems to think they can dribble everyone, and people will forget. But today is a day of reckoning.
“History has shown that unresolved labour issues do not disappear; they resurface, often with greater consequences. Time is ticking.”
He urged workers to remain united and vigilant, describing the moment as one that requires stronger labour solidarity.
“Justice must be done. Those who were unjustly sacked and are suffering at home must have their cases revisited within the framework of the law. As a union, we are not asking for anything outside the law. But if the law is followed, we will be satisfied that justice has been served.”
