Kaduna Residents Face Blackout as Electricity Workers Go on Strike

Residents of Kaduna and neighboring states have been without power for over two days due to an indefinite strike by electricity workers of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) initiated the walkout on Monday, protesting the alleged termination of over 900 employees, unpaid pensions, lack of promotions, poor working conditions, inadequate equipment, and the failure to implement the 2024 national minimum wage.

However, Kaduna Electric management disputed the union's claim, stating that only 450 employees received "services no longer required" letters.

On Tuesday, Comrade Sheyin Nuhu Wakili, Chairman of Kaduna State NUEE, insisted that workers’ entitlements must be settled before any disengagement. He also revealed that during a Monday meeting with the Department of State Services (DSS), the management had agreed to withdraw the termination letters but later failed to honor the agreement.

Supporting the strike, Comrade Baffa Safiyanu Isyaku, President of the Kaduna branch of the Senior Staff Association of Energy and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), affirmed that Kaduna’s power supply could not be restored until the dispute was resolved.

"I urge citizens to sympathize with the workers' plight. The company must address the issue because these employees have families to support," he stated.

In response, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Head of Corporate Communication at Kaduna Electric, explained that the company was undergoing a major transition to ensure long-term stability.

While acknowledging public frustration, the company reassured customers of its commitment to fairness and transparency in handling the matter.