The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has issued a scathing condemnation of Kaduna Electric’s decision to lay off 900 workers, describing the move as a brazen attack on workers’ rights and a violation of labour laws.
The mass dismissal, which the management claims is part of a “right-sizing” exercise, has triggered an uproar within the labour community, with the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) accusing Kaduna Electric of anti-labour practices, pension fraud, and deliberate intimidation of unionized workers.
Malam Umar Hashidu, the Managing Director of Kaduna Electric, has defended the company’s action, arguing that the layoffs were necessary for financial sustainability. However, he disputed the figure presented by labour unions, asserting that only 444 employees were affected, not the 900 claimed by workers’ representatives.
Despite this justification, CDWR insists the sackings were not about financial restructuring but a calculated move to silence workers advocating for improved working conditions.
In a statement signed by its National Chairperson, Comrade Rufus Olusesan, and National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Chinedu Bosah, CDWR rejected the layoffs and demanded the immediate reinstatement of all affected employees.
“We hereby demand the immediate and unconditional reversal of this unjust sacking and the reinstatement of the 900 workers to their duty posts without loss of pay. This unjust sacking violates redundancy rules as stipulated in Section 20 of the Labour Act,” the statement read.
The organisation further accused Kaduna Electric of blatantly disregarding legal protocols, stating that the company failed to engage the NUEE before carrying out the mass sack—an omission that makes the action “highly suspicious and unlawful.”
CDWR highlighted damning allegations against Kaduna Electric’s management, including the illegal diversion of workers’ pension contributions over a period of five years.
“The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has accused the management of Kaduna Electric of recklessly and illegally deducting workers’ pension contributions but pocketing the money instead of remitting it to the Pension Custodian and Pension Administrator,” the group stated.
Workers have also decried the absence of medical services and other fundamental employee benefits, describing the situation as a deliberate attempt to subject them to exploitative conditions while maximizing corporate profits.
The backlash against the mass sack has led to industrial unrest, with workers declaring an indefinite strike beginning Monday, February 3, 2025.
CDWR has urged the leadership of NUEE, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to escalate the resistance with sustained nationwide protests and industrial action.
“We call on the leadership of NUEE, NLC, and TUC to mobilize for mass actions, including strikes, to force the management of Kaduna Electric to reinstate all illegally sacked workers and meet all other demands,” CDWR stated.
The unfolding labour crisis at Kaduna Electric has become a flashpoint in Nigeria’s industrial relations, setting the stage for a major showdown between organized labour and corporate management. With mass action looming, the battle for workers’ rights in the electricity sector is far from over.
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