The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) shut down offices of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) on Wednesday in Abuja, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Niger states, in protest against the dismissal of over 900 workers. Operations at the company's headquarters in Abuja and branches in Minna, Lokoja, and other areas were halted as union members sealed facilities. The action follows a 48-hour ultimatum issued Tuesday by NLC President Joe Ajaero, demanding the reversal of the sackings or facing broader industrial action. Ajaero said the dispute began six months ago when AEDC management allegedly promised only retiring staff would be affected. "At that time, the union intervened based on that understanding. No responsible labour leader would oppose the exit of workers who have legitimately reached retirement age," he said. He accused the company of deception, stating most dismissed workers were young, with some having served only two to three years. The NLC warned that failure to respond could lead to power supply disruptions across the affected regions. "If nothing is done within that time, we cannot guarantee power supply. The workers who keep the system running will stay at home, and if they are not at home, the system will naturally be affected," Ajaero said. Residents and businesses in the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding states are now on edge over the possibility of an extended blackout. AEDC management had not responded publicly to the shutdown as of Wednesday evening.
Joe Ajaero isn't staging protests over retirees—he's reacting to the sacking of hundreds of young workers AEDC claimed were near retirement. If the company misled the union once, why should it be trusted to manage Nigeria's fragile power supply? This isn't just about jobs; it's about whether a utility can unilaterally break agreements without consequence. Nigerians may soon find out, one blackout at a time.
