Electricity workers in Katsina State have embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of pension entitlements allegedly withheld for more than eight years.
The action, led by members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), began officially on Wednesday and affects staff of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), which supplies power across Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states.
Speaking to a local Newspaper, the Northwest Zonal Coordinator of NUEE, Comrade Sani Muhammad Ahmad, confirmed that the union had sealed off KEDCO’s Katsina branch office along Kano Road in protest after several failed attempts to resolve the issue through dialogue.
“Our members are being shortchanged — over 100 months of pension deductions remain unpaid. This indefinite strike is the last resort after exhausting all dialogue options,”;; he said while locking up the office.
Comrade Sani accused KEDCO of deliberately withholding the pension contributions of its employees, insisting the company has the financial capacity to clear the backlog.
He further stated that the strike would continue until the outstanding pension payments are made, even as he acknowledged the inconvenience it might cause residents.
“We’re not just workers; we’re parents and breadwinners too. All we’re asking for is what we’ve rightfully earned,”;; he added, calling on the public to bear with the union and support their cause.
The industrial action is expected to affect electricity supply in the region, especially in Katsina, where the strike is being actively enforced.
