By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has strongly condemned the management of Kaduna Electric for the mass dismissal of 900 workers, calling it an unlawful act in response to workers’ legitimate demands for improved working conditions. The group has demanded the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the affected workers, as well as the resolution of outstanding issues concerning workers’ rights.
In a statement released by CDWR, the organization described the sack as a violation of redundancy rules under Section 20 of the Labour Act, which mandates that employers engage with trade unions before making redundancies. According to CDWR, the mass dismissal, which the management referred to as “right-sizing,” was, in reality, a retaliatory action against workers’ efforts to challenge management’s anti-labour practices. The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has accused the company of illegally deducting workers’ pension contributions and failing to remit the funds to the relevant authorities for five years, alongside other workers’ grievances, such as the lack of medical services.
“This unjust sack is in violation of the Labour Act, and the management’s actions are nothing short of an attack on workers’ rights and union activities,” stated the CDWR in their release. The group emphasized that despite the claims of redundancy, there is no legitimate reason for the layoffs, as workers have long been subjected to underpayment and excessive workloads. CDWR believes the mass sack was part of a broader strategy to weaken the union, intimidate workers, and impose exploitative working conditions that would benefit the company’s owners.
The CDWR has called on Kaduna Electric to reverse the dismissals immediately, remand all deducted pension funds to the Pension Custodians, and cease all anti-labour practices. Furthermore, the group is urging the management to engage in negotiations with NUEE to resolve any outstanding disputes.
In their call for solidarity, CDWR has urged the leadership of NUEE, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to mobilize sustained mass actions, including strike action, to pressure Kaduna Electric to reinstate the sacked workers and address their demands for better working conditions.
“We stand with the workers of Kaduna Electric, and we will continue to fight for their rights to fair treatment and unionization,” said Comrade Rufus Olusesan, National Chairperson of CDWR. “This attack on workers will not be allowed to stand.”
The statement concluded with a call for immediate action to protect the rights and livelihoods of the affected workers, and a demand for the company to engage in fair and transparent discussions with its employees.