Kaduna thrown in total darkness as electric management accuses Union workers of sabotage

Posted by Nicholas on Wed 06th May, 2015 - tori.ng

It's a blame game between the National Union of Electricity in Kaduna and the management of Kaduna distribution company. The entire Kaduna state and it's environs have been thrown into complete darkness following a protest by the union members.

Following the protest embarked upon by members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) on Monday, the entire town has been thrown into total darkness.

The management has however attributed the situation to sabotage on the part of the union members.

The union which had accused the management of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company of high handedness among other issues decided to put off all the transmission stations leading to power outage in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states which are under the Kaduna zone.

The union speaking through the national assistant secretary, North West, Comrade Moses Amedu, lamented inconsistency in the payment of monthly salary, non-payment of salary arrears, inadequate equipment to work with, poor medical policy, non-recognition of labour union and low supply of electricity to consumers in the aforementioned states.

Meanwhile, the managing director and chief executive officer of KEDC, Garba Haruna, addressing journalists yesterday in Kaduna apparently in response to the situation on ground and the allegations of the union workers, stressed that the company did not need any external labour union to operate as a private company.

He said the company had earlier in the privatisation process entered into an agreement with the workers that once their severance package was paid, they would only be engaged as contract staff for a period of six months which is due to expire this month.