The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has condemned the mass retrenchment of about 800 workers by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), describing the move as “unconscionable” and a violation of existing agreements between the unions and management.
In a statement on Monday titled “Mass Retrenchment of Employees of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company,” NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, said the decision contradicted the Memorandum of Understanding anchored on mutual trust between both parties.
Last week, AEDC began a sweeping staff rationalisation exercise as part of its internal restructuring plan. The mass layoff, which commenced on Wednesday, November 5, reportedly followed months of internal review aimed at cutting costs and improving operational efficiency.
Sources within the company disclosed that the management had initially planned to dismiss 1,800 workers, but reduced the number to 800 after intense negotiations with NUEE and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).
AEDC management, however, insisted the restructuring was not simply a downsizing exercise but a strategic step toward creating a customer-centric and performance-driven culture in line with global best practices.
Reacting, NUEE argued that several employees on the retrenchment list did not deserve to be included, noting that poor performance was sometimes due to management-induced constraints such as inadequate tools, poor infrastructure, and an unconducive work environment.
“The so-called restructuring falls short of the agreement between the unions and management. The number involved is unacceptably high, especially considering the current economic realities and manpower shortages within the company,” Igwebike said.
The union also expressed concern that over 60 per cent of those affected are youths, warning that such large-scale retrenchment could have grave economic and social consequences. It further alleged targeted victimisation of union officials, claiming that more than 70 per cent of union representatives across four state councils and 21 company chapters were affected.
As part of its demands, NUEE called for:
A comprehensive review of the restructuring process in line with the existing MoU;
A line-by-line audit of performance records and disciplinary histories of affected staff; and
The establishment of a joint AEDC-Union committee to oversee appeals and mitigate cases of unfair dismissal.
While reaffirming its commitment to defending workers’ rights, NUEE urged AEDC management to channel its efforts toward engaging employees’ potential rather than resorting to mass layoffs.
“The entire process is flawed. Management should focus on harnessing workers’ capacity to achieve productivity rather than punishing them,” the statement concluded.