The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has strongly condemned the decision by Kaduna Electric to lay off 900 employees, calling it a retaliatory action against workers’ efforts to improve their working conditions. In a dramatic move, the group has demanded the immediate reinstatement of all sacked employees and vowed to mobilize for mass protests until the decision is reversed.
The sackings, which began in early February, were initially explained by the management of Kaduna Electric as part of a “right-sizing” measure aimed at ensuring the company’s long-term sustainability. However, the workers’ union, led by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), has accused the company of using the layoffs as a response to their legitimate demands for improved working conditions and the end of anti-labour practices.
Speaking on behalf of the CDWR, Comrade Rufus Olusesan, National Chairperson, and Comrade Chinedu Bosah, National Publicity Secretary, issued a scathing statement, accusing the company of violating workers’ rights. “This action is not about right-sizing; it is an attack on the workers for demanding better treatment,” the statement reads. “The sackings are designed to intimidate and suppress any efforts to organize and speak out against poor working conditions.”
In an official statement defending the decision, Malam Umar Hashidu, the Managing Director of Kaduna Electric, explained that 444 workers were actually dismissed, significantly fewer than the 900 reported by the unions. However, this explanation has failed to quell the growing outrage among the workers and their advocates.
“The claim that this is a right-sizing measure is nothing more than an attempt to cover up a deliberate attack on the workforce,” said Comrade Olusesan. “The management’s failure to consult with the union before making this decision, as required by the Labour Act, shows that these sackings were not based on genuine financial necessity but on an effort to break the union and undermine workers’ rights.”
The workers’ grievances had escalated over the course of several months, with accusations of systemic exploitation. The NUEE reported that the company had been illegally withholding pension contributions for five years, pocketing funds that were meant to go to the Pension Custodian and Administrator. Workers also faced the growing threat of job insecurity, with the company failing to provide essential services like healthcare.
“This is the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said a senior member of the NUEE, speaking under the condition of anonymity. “We’ve been trying to negotiate with the management for a long time. Instead of addressing our concerns, they’ve chosen to silence us by firing those who dared to speak up.”
The CDWR has now called for a united response from workers’ unions, urging the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to launch a coordinated mass action to demand the reinstatement of the dismissed workers. The organisation insists that the sackings are not only illegal but part of a broader strategy to weaken the union and impose worse conditions on the remaining workers.
A Fight for Justice or a Fight for Profits?
Kaduna Electric has struggled with public relations in the past, and this latest conflict is no exception. The company has long been a key player in Nigeria’s energy sector, supplying electricity to various regions, including Kaduna. However, as the country’s electricity grid continues to face challenges, the pressure on the company to cut costs has only grown.
Malam Hashidu, the Managing Director, argued that the layoff was necessary for the company’s survival in an increasingly tough business environment. “We had no choice but to make tough decisions to ensure the company remains financially viable,” he stated. “The restructuring will help us operate more efficiently and reduce our operating costs.”
However, the CDWR dismisses this justification, calling it a convenient excuse to pursue an anti-labour agenda. “This is not about saving the company,” said Comrade Bosah. “It is about suppressing workers’ rights and benefiting the few at the top of the company. The employees at the bottom, who have given years of hard work, are the ones being sacrificed.”
The union’s accusations also highlight an issue that has plagued Nigeria’s broader labour environment: the lack of adequate consultation between management and labour unions when it comes to major decisions that affect workers’ livelihoods. According to Nigerian labour laws, redundancy must be approached carefully and with sufficient dialogue with workers’ representatives.
Under Section 20 of the Labour Act, any redundancy should be justified and workers should be consulted in the process. The CDWR claims that Kaduna Electric failed to adhere to this legal requirement, making the sackings even more questionable. “The company’s failure to engage the union in this process makes the entire action unlawful,” added Comrade Olusesan. “We will not sit idly by while workers’ rights are trampled upon.”
The Road Ahead: A Call for Solidarity
In light of these developments, the CDWR has urged Nigerian workers to show solidarity with their colleagues at Kaduna Electric, and it has called for nationwide protests until the 900 sacked workers are reinstated. The organisation has also demanded that the company remit all withheld pension funds to the appropriate custodians and take immediate steps to improve workers’ conditions, including providing adequate healthcare and job security.
“Kaduna Electric must reverse this injustice immediately,” the CDWR’s statement concluded. “If they do not, we will mobilize for sustained mass action. This fight is not just for the workers of Kaduna Electric, but for all Nigerian workers who face similar exploitation.”
