The Kano State chapter of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) took action on Monday, shutting down the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) due to the company’s failure to remit pension funds for the last six years.
Led by Ado Riruwai, the Northwest Chairman of the union, the workers decided to protest against the non-remittance of pension funds, arguing that they could not stand idly by as the company’s management failed to meet its obligations.
Riruwai, who spoke on behalf of the workers, accused the KEDCO management of victimizing employees who had voiced their concerns about this issue. He emphasized that such actions were a violation of the workers’ rights, as protected by the Nigerian Constitution.
In response, the head of Corporate Communications at KEDCO, Bala Sani, explained that the company had inherited a backlog of unpaid pension contributions and other obligations. Since the arrival of new management, the company has made efforts to prioritize and make timely payments.
Sani revealed that both KEDCO’s management and NUEE representatives, along with other relevant stakeholders, were engaged in discussions to resolve the matter amicably. The issues at hand had persisted for several years, and the new management is committed to gradually settling the backlog as financial resources allow.
