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NLC to picket Ikeja DISCO over sack of 400 staff

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday threatened to picket the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company for laying off 400 staff without following the due process.

The congress subsequently asked the company to recall the affected staff by Monday, March 7th, 2016 or the face the consequence.

Specifically, the congress said it would mobilise the organised labour and other civil society groups for a showdown with the company.

In a separate statement signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the NLC said the union will not condone such action, especially considering the fact that the decision was taken without reasonable justification.

In the statement which reads in part, Wabba said: “We have received information that your management has taken a unilateral decision to disengage 400 of your employees and resort to casual labour without due process, which includes consultation with the union in your industry, 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, but 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 by throwing hundreds of your productive employees out of employment at a period we should all be concerned about our country’s growing unemployment rate.

“It is unexpected that a company that was given public funds to operate, after the fraudulent unbundling and privatisation of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, will turn around to extort consumers through tariff increases and go further to sack its employees. This is the highest provocation you have unleashed on us and we have more than enough capacity to respond appropriately.

“Consequently, on behalf of the National Executive Council of the NLC, you must recall all the workers affected by your ill-conceived decision. Specifically, if by Monday, 7th day of March 2016 all the affected workers are not recalled, we shall mobilise members of all our 44 affiliates, including our civil society allies and pro people organisations to massively picket your facilities in their various locations.

“This may be extended to a national action if you remain 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.”

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0 Comments

  1. baba bizzy

    March 4, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    abeg make them go jooorrrr…….. mk fresh face come on the light jareeee

  2. Apachee zooma

    March 4, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    The electricity reforms will remain a huge fraud until the metering system is fully deployed. Sacking workers only reflects the fact that Baba may have turned off subsidy to the DISCOS. Let no one be fooled. Nigerians should demand their rights.

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