Laid off casual staff of the Kaduna Electric have besieged the Zonal Office of the company in Kaduna to protest the non-payment of N2 million severance entitlement.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police Umar Ambursa had brokered an agreement between the management and hundreds of casual staff who in November 2015 locked up the company to press home their demand for the payment N30,000 each as their three months salary in lie of notice.

There was heavy presence of armed police officers in front of the main gate this morning as the protesters displayed placards and chanted protest songs. One of the placards reads: “Fashola Please tell KAEDCO to give casual staff their job.”

Chairman of the casual staff, Ahmed Mohammed, in an interview with newsmen accused the management of not fulfilling the agreements which, according to him, “also included issuing of appointment letters to the 920 casual staffs or paying N2 million as severance.”

Continuing, he said: “We need to be issued appointment letter or paid N2 million severance as promised by the Managing Director because most of us have put in a better years of our life serving this company as casual staff.

“Most of us worked for a period ranging from 10-18 years as casual staff, hoping that one day we shall be confirmed. But, consideration is not always given to us during several recruitment exercise. We heard that one Engr Mohammed Tukur Gidado is likely to take over as new MD; that is why we want him to know our plight and help us.”

Mohammed appealed to the Federal Government to come to their aid in ensuring that the new management either absorbs them or pays their full entitlement.

The Head Corporate Communication, Alh Abdulazeez Abdullahi, when contacted, said the company was aware of the protest.

“We are aware of the protest. They have written to inform us about it. We shall issue a statement in response to it later,” he said.

•Photo shows KEDC MD Idris Mohammed.