Protesting workers of Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) have picketed the headquarters of the firm in Yola to protest lack of Condition of Service.
The company is responsible for electricity supply to Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe and Borno states.
The protesting workers who shutdown commercial activities of the company threaten to shutdown electricity supply to the four states if their grievances were not address by 12 am on Thursday.
Addressing the press, the Deputy President General (North) of the Senior Staff of Electricity and Allied Company (SSAEAC), Comrade Nasiru Dembo said due to lack of condition of service the company has been sacking staff the way it want and there is no promotion and annual increment.
“Enough is enough. We warn the management almost five times and have written to the Federal Ministry of Power, and the Director of Labour who mediated almost three times had given them ultimatum.
“Because of that, organized labour in power sector made up of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Company and National Union of Electricity Employees, decided to shutdown the commercial activities of YEDC.
“Tomorrow by 12 am we are going to shutdown the whole system.
“I want to appeal to all our customers under YEDC in Adamawa, Borno, Taraba and Yobe states to bear with us; any of our customer that stockpiled perishable items should look at alternative way of storing the items,” Dembo said.
Other allegations listed by the union leader included lack of working equipments and collection of illegal allowance by the Managing Director of the company, Engr. Mustafa Umara.
Reacting to the issues raised, the Senior Corporate Communication Officer of YEDC, Mr Kingsley Nkemneme said that the company was not a private one but under the Federal Ministry of Power who appointed the Managing Director and Chief Executive.
“There is going to be a board meeting tomorrow which has been communicated to the union and one of the key issues to be discussed at the board meeting is the issue of condition of service,’ Nkemneme said.
On collection of illegal allowances by the Managing Director, Nkemneme said series of petitions had been written against the managing director to graft agencies but he had not been found wanting.
