Oyo NLC threatens showdown over sacked 221 IBEDC workers The Nigeria Labour Congress, Oyo State chapter, has vowed to take action against the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company over the sacking of 221 workers.
The NLC had earlier demanded the reabsorption of the workers, implicating that more than 3,000 employees of the IBEDC were unjustly terminated.
However, IBEDC rejected the purport, reporting that only 221 workers were sacked.
The distribution company illuminated that the affected workers were employed by an outsourcing firm, Premier International Procurements and Logistics Limited, and not IBEDC.
In the disclaimer notice on Friday, IBEDC emphasised that it was not responsible for the workers’ dismissal, declaring, “They were not employees of IBEDC, and as such, IBEDC is not responsible for their termination or any potential reinstatement.”
IBEDC also turned down claims of any wrongdoing, saying, “IBEDC strongly declines any misleading narratives that unfairly attempt to associate IBEDC with this issue. These says misrepresent the facts and could mislead the public and stakeholders.”
The company also castigated the repeated summons by the NLC for picketing, arguing that such actions disrupt service delivery and inconvenience customers.
“We also strongly rebuke the repeated summons for picketing, which cause significant disruptions and virtually impact our ability to provide modal power services,” the company stated.
But, NLC insisted that the workers must be reinstated, as they were laid off without any explanation.
However, the Oyo NLC Chairman, Kayode Martins, while speaking with Saturday Round Table, revealed it was not right for the IBEDC to lay off any worker.
“Even if it is just one person that was sacked, is it right? You cannot treat human beings like animals and expect everyone to stay quiet,” he said.
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Martins expressed similarity for the affected workers, pointing out that some of them were vulnerable individuals, such as widows who had been employed for several years.
“There is a widow among those people. Should we wait until it is 3,000 people before we act? Not everyone will stay silent, and not everyone can be bought over.”
He disclosed further, “If they are not ready to reabsorb those they have laid off, no problem. When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. We will surely react, and they will see us.”
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Category: World-News
Tag: Oyo NLC threatens showdown over sacked 221 IBEDC workers
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Published 3/8/2025