Comrade Ayuba Wabba: NLC leader: threatens IKEDC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has called on the management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Lagos to recall 400 workers it disengaged recently.

The NLC made the call in a letter signed by its President, Mr Ayuba Wabba and addressed to the Managing Director of the company.

A copy of the letter was made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

It read: “we have received information that your management has taken unilateral decision to disengage 400 of your employees and resort to casual labour without due process.

“The decision was taken without consultation with the union in your industry or with the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) an affiliate of the NLC.

“This is totally unacceptable to us as your decision was obviously taken without reasonable justifications.

“It is for the selfish exploitative interest of your management, who dwell under the guise of maximising profit not only to exploit consumers but also to deepen poverty.”

Ayuba declared that the disengagement of the workers would throw hundreds of the company’s productive employees out of employment at a period when the country’s unemployment rate was high.

He said that it was unexpected that a company which was given public funds to operate after privatisation of PHCN, would turn around to extort consumers through tariff increases and sacking of employees.

“We have the capacity to respond appropriately to this provocation you have unleashed on us.

“Consequently, on behalf of the National Executive Council of the NLC, you must recall all the workers affected by your ill-conceived decision,’’ he said.

The labour leader warned that if the affected workers were not recalled by March 7, the NLC would mobilise members of its 44 affiliates and the civil society allies to picket the company.

He added that the picketing might be extended to a national action if the the management of the company remained obstinate.

“We will not allow you or any employer, private or public to continue to trample on the fundamental rights of workers, which includes right to work,’’ Ayuba warned.