“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken action by shutting down Ikeja Electric, one of the country’s power distribution firms, over claims of poor treatment of employees.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has also become involved, trying to mediate between Ikeja Electric and the NLC.
Comrade Mbang Ntukubes, Assistant General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), shared details of the situation during an interview at Ikeja Electric’s office in Lagos. He expressed frustration over how workers are treated, criticizing the company’s management. He remarked, “This place has essentially become a slave camp, with management treating workers like slaves.”
According to Ntukubes, the management has not followed the conditions of service that were negotiated, which cover various employee-related matters like discipline, promotion, training, and termination.
“They have abandoned all the provisions we agreed upon,” he noted, pointing out that workers are dismissed unfairly and only selected individuals receive promotions. He also mentioned the company’s unwillingness to discuss the new minimum wage.
Ntukubes explained that this issue has been ongoing for almost two years without resolution. Despite multiple efforts to engage with management, they have shown little interest in resolving the concerns. He said, “Despite our efforts to address these concerns, management shows no willingness to listen.”
The protests were sparked by the company’s disregard for the agreed service terms. “Management has yet to clearly state the reasons behind their actions. We held a meeting on Friday, but it ended without any resolution,” Ntukubes stated.
He added that the DSS had stepped in to mediate the discussions, hoping to find common ground. “The DSS has invited us to explore potential middle ground,” he mentioned.
