Millions of households and businesses across Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states may be plunged into darkness following the declaration of an indefinite strike by two major electricity workers’ unions at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).

The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) on Wednesday shut down operations at KEDCO’s headquarters after the expiration of a midnight ultimatum issued to management over unpaid arrears.

Union leaders said the decision to down tools followed management’s failure to meet a January 20 deadline to settle three categories of outstanding entitlements owed to workers. By Wednesday morning, the gates of KEDCO had been locked, while technical staff abandoned their duty posts.

The action has raised fears of a total collapse of power supply in the region, as faults on the electricity network may go unattended during the strike period.

Speaking at a tense press briefing at the KEDCO head office, the unions accused management of allowing negotiations to completely break down. They alleged that workers’ accounts were not credited as agreed, leaving them with no option but to embark on industrial action.

The Deputy President General (North) of SSAEAC, Comrade Rilwan Shehu, said the strike was the culmination of years of unresolved grievances.

“We are here to lock down activities because they failed to comply with so many agreements. Since 2014, we have struggled with issues ranging from non-remittance of pensions to the settlement of death benefits and poor working environments. Many things are being sidelined,” Shehu said.

Also speaking, the Vice President (North-West) of NUEE, Comrade Ado Gaya, accused management of discrimination in staff welfare and promotion.

“Just recently, they carried out a promotional exercise. For the past ten or eleven years, you can find staff here without any promotion. But in their personal Interest, they are now engaging in selective promotion,” Gaya alleged.

As of the time of filing this report, KEDCO management had not responded to inquiries on the strike action or the allegations of unpaid arrears, pension defaults and selective promotions.

With electricity workers off duty, residents and businesses in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states have been advised to prepare for possible prolonged power outages as the industrial action continues. (Nigerian Tribune)