The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), has recently been rocked with various crisis ranging from allegations of the neglect of staff welfare to unjustified sacking of its staff.
Consequently, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), embarked on an industrial action, which resulted in picketing of the company’s premises across its franchise by the union.
Among the grievances of the union is the allegation that the company has concluded arrangements to sack over 200 of its staff.
It was gathered that the downsizing exercise began in February 2025 with the sacking of 17 staff. Some of the unionists who spoke to PrimeStar News anonymously, mentioned the ridiculously huge disparity between the monthly remuneration of members of the executive management and other cadres of staff, stressing that staff of the company are suffering in silence given the hardship occasioned by current inflationary trend of the Nigerian economy.
One of the unionists told the reporters that, “The Managing Director earns N10 million as monthly salary while the other members of the management team earn between N2 million and N4 million monthly, and staff on the lower grades earn as low as between N500,000 and N100,000.
This is a company that violates the Nigerian casualisation law and engages casual workers who labour on daily basis by using their sweat and blood to work without necessary tools, logistics and training for the past eight years.
The company keep the casual workers in perpetual casualization without any hope of future employment.”
The aggrieved staff of the company frowns at the series of deductions from various cooperative thrift and credit societies which were not appropriately remitted to the societies as and when due, stressing that there are also backlogs of pension deductions yet to be remitted as appropriate.
The management was also accused of denying staff their statutory annual leave and vacations even as the management sometimes force staff to engage in working leave.
Some staff are forced to work on weekends despite having their letters of appointment stating Monday to Friday as work days.
The ambience of the company connotes general resentment as most of the staff are not happy especially because of lack of career growth and advancement.
The unionists also alleged that the minimum wage as pronounced by the federal government is yet to be implemented by the company as the salaries of many staff remains the same even after 10 years of working assiduously to increase the company revenue on monthly basis.
One of the unionists said, “There is a need for the government to renationalize or re-privatise this commonwealth of ours. The present board members and top management are just milking the company dry. They are not stakeholders. They are not serious investors. They are mere siphoning instruments with no desire for the overall health of the company. They have been sacking the middle and lower cadres. It is time to sack the inept board members and top management who are just looting the company dry. There is no investment and they expect commensurate revenue.”
Meanwhile, the company has debunked the allegation of strike by the workers of the company, urging the customers and various stakeholders to disregard the media reports that its workers have embarked on strike beginning on Thursday February 6, 2025.
The statement signed by IBEDC Coordinating Head, Corporate Services, Angela Olanrewaju, reads in parts: “As we are aware of reports circulating that employees of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), went on strike today. We would like to clarify that the action in question was a picket organized by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE). One of the concerns raised was the alleged unjust exiting of certain staff members, along with other issues brought forward by the union.
She added, “We want to emphasize that the staff members in question were let go due to consistent poor performance, following the company’s Conditions of Service and proper procedures were followed in these exits.”
“Regarding other concerns related to staff welfare, we want to affirm that the company has always prioritized the well-being of its employees. Despite the ongoing economic challenges in the country, IBEDC has consistently paid the full salaries of its employees each month.”
“IBEDC remains dedicated to excellent staff welfare, maintaining a positive work environment and safeguarding the interests of both its employees and stakeholders.”
