Blackout looms In Ogun as IBEDC workers embark on indefinite strike

Residents of Ogun State may be plunged into total darkness as staff of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) have embarked on an indefinite strike. 

The strike, according to the workers is hinged on non-implimentation of the new minimum wage, non remittance of pension and cooperative deductions, alleged disengagement of 17 staff among other staff welfare concerns. 

Speaking with newsmen, the Vice President of National Union of Electricity Employees, Lagos-Ogun Zone, Engr. Abiodun Shobayo, said the workers were left with no choice than to embark on the indefinite strike given the unwillingness of the IBEDC management to attend to their concerns for the past nine months.

“We are this morning saying enough is enough, that the IBEDEC management cannot continue to take us for a ride for issues we have been talking to them for about nine months.

“For instance, our pensions and cooperative deductions running to billions of naira are not remitted, we are not given imprest, people have been using their personal money to run the company, to clear electricity faults , go about to distribute electricity bills. 

“The management is not ready to implement the new minimum wage, they are not ready for negotiation complaining that there is no fund. They have also started sacking workers indiscriminately without recourse to the conditions of service.

“About 17 of our members are already affected but we have said this cannot stay, we have tried to be patient with them but it is like they have hidden agenda. Just recently, 900 staff of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company were sacked, we don’t want such here.

“70% of people working here are casuals and we have said this is not right. Anyway, the strike is indefinite until the management is ready to see reason with us. The strike action cuts across where we have IBEDEC franchise and these are the six states of the South-West, Kwara and Kogi.

“We demand that all monies owed us should be paid, the sacked workers must be reinstated and then we can be talking about calling the strike off”, he said

Meanwhile, the Public Relations officer of IBEDC, Deji Bada, while reacting to the strike, stated that the Union is fighting for their members, adding that the management will address the issues. 

 

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