Oscarline Onwuemenyi
20 April 2016, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Managing Director of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) Plc, Alhaji Gidado Modibo has denied alleged disparities in the salaries of workers, noting that the company would continue to put the welfare of its staff as top priority.
Members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), yesterday shut operations at all offices of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC Plc in the four states of Plateau, Benue, Bauchi and Gombe over alleged sacking of some staff as well as unfavourable working conditions, among other things.
The aggrieved protesters stormed JEDC offices in the four states and prevented management and others from gaining access into the company’s offices for business transactions.
The union members stormed the headquarters of the Company at Rwang Pam street, Jos as well as the office along Murtala Mohammed Way, as early as 6.30am barricaded the entrances and prevented Management and others from gaining entry into the offices.
The Assistant General Secretary of NUEE, North East Zone, Mr. Anthony Sule, said the protest was over the plight of workers in the company.
Modibbo, who addressed the press in his office to clear grey areas, said that, “The union’s claim that we have been sacking people is not true. Since we took over the company in 2013, we have recruited more than 150 people into the system.
“We only disengaged a few redundant and weak people that were not adding any value to the system, and that included four Assistant General Managers, four Business Managers and some principal and senior managers.”
Explaining that salaries of staff of the company were harmonised in November 2015, Modibbo said, “The records are there to back that harmonisation. We know the relevance of morale to efficiency and cannot treat some workers better than the others because we all need their maximum output.”
He added, “We run JEDC as a private outfit that must stay afloat and survive, so much premium is placed on productivity and resourcefulness.
“The records and data are there to support the performances of those sacked and those retained.
“We have found out that it is the former workers that were sacked over such poor performance that have mobilised students and miscreants to fight the system.”
A statement from the Head of Public Relations, JEDC, Hajiya Lubabatu Rabiu, said, “In line with the on-going protest by the National Union of Electricity Employee, (NUEE), JEDC wishes to state that talks with the NUEE has been on-going before now and we shall continue to dialogue with them to resolve all complaints.”