Electricity Workers Strike Grounded Businesses, Social Activities In Kaduna

The strike embarked upon by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) over an alleged plan by Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KADECO) to sack about 900 workers has crippled business and social activities in Kaduna State.

The electricity workers’ strike, which began at midnight on Sunday, has thrown Kaduna and its environs into total darkness as residents battle to run their businesses and daily activities without electricity.

Many residents searched for water as water scarcity hit Kaduna communities as the strike entered three days.

LEADERSHIP spoke with some of the Kaduna residents. Reports indicate that they expressed frustration over the strike, calling on the KADECO management and the union workers to end the strike without delay in the interest of electricity consumers.

A small business owner along Television Market Road in Kaduna South, Samson David, called on the government to mediate between Kaduna Electric management and union workers. “Fuel is expensive to use all through to run a business, and with this strike action embarked upon by electricity workers, our businesses are down. The government should urgently intervene.”

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Another electricity consumer, Gambo Tanko, lamented, “Who will pay Kaduna Electric bill as there is no electricity? Some of us are on an estimated bill, and what we are experiencing is total darkness. We charge our phones using generators or solar to charge.”

Recall that the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, in a letter dated January 31, 2025, to the affected workers, directed them to hand over the company’s property in their possession to the Human Resource Department immediately while plans to pay them their severance packages were underway.

The letter, signed by Abubakar Mohammed, the deputy managing director of KADECO, notified the affected workers that the company no longer needed their services, effective January 31, 2025. However, KADECO had denied sacking 900 workers, as reported.