NIGERIA: NLC Halts IBEDC Operations Over Massive Layoff

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Nigeria Labour Congress, Oyo state chapter has halted operations at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, widely known as IBEDC, after a massive protest occurred over the dismissal of over 3000 employees, on Tuesday.

Led by the Chairman of the Congress, Kayode Martin, the union members barricaded the IBEDC entrance, causing traffic disruption in the Challenge to Dugbe area of Ibadan, Oyo state.

Chanting solidarity songs, the protesters called for the immediate reinstatement of the dismissed workers and the national minimum wage payment.

The NLC chairman, Martin criticized IBEDC’s outsourcing agents for allegedly exploiting workers, pointing to issues like unpaid minimum wages and unexplained salary deductions.

He said: “We are protesting the unjust treatment of workers by IBEDC and its outsourcing agents. Over 3,000 workers have been left unemployed without any justification. These workers dedicated their time and energy to the company and are now being treated as expendable.“These outsourcing agents are not only withholding minimum wage payments but are also making arbitrary deductions from workers’ meagre salaries. This must end.”

The union presented a list of seven key demands to IBEDC, including the implementation of the new minimum wage, prompt payment of Retirement Savings Account (RSA) backlogs, the regularization of outsourced staff, and the provision of adequate healthcare and compensation.

Martin appealed to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and other relevant stakeholders for intervention, warning that the large-scale layoffs could contribute to rising unemployment and security concerns.

He warned: “We urge Governor Makinde and other concerned Nigerians to step in. With unemployment rates already high, further job losses could exacerbate security issues.”

The NLC Chairman also called on IBEDC to engage in dialogue with the union to resolve the matter before tensions escalate.

“We are here to advocate for the rights of our members, not to cause trouble. We are open to discussions, but we will not back down until our demands are met,” Martin said.

The protest led to major traffic disruptions, leaving many commuters stranded, while IBEDC had yet to officially respond to the NLC’s demands as of the time of this report.