Korede Abdullah in Lagos
Electricity workers in Ibadan took to the streets to protest the sack of 17 colleagues and the casualisation of workers without formal employment.
The protesters, who occupied the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) office on Thursday, alleged that some employees had worked as casual workers for years, receiving meagre salaries without prospects of full employment. They also expressed concerns about deductions from staffers’ salaries without remittance.
The protesters claimed that the sack of their colleagues by IBEDC was done without due consultation and violated Labour laws, which require union members to be consulted before downsizing.
They demanded that the company reinstate their sacked colleagues and address the issue of casualisation. The protest highlighted the plight of workers in the electricity sector, who face uncertain employment conditions and unfair labour practices.
In response to the protest, IBEDC’s Head of Branding and Corporate Communication, Angela Olanrewaju, stated that the sacked employees were placed on probation for several months before being let go due to lack of improvement.
She also revealed that the company has no casual workers, as their duties have been outsourced. However, the protesters maintained that the company’s actions were unfair and demanded justice for their colleagues.
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