The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies and the National Union of Electricity Employees at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company have commenced an indefinite strike over alleged poor working conditions.
The strike, which began on Wednesday, followed the failure of the company’s management to meet workers’ demands after the expiration of a deadline on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Following the commencement of the strike, Kano metropolis and its environs were thrown into darkness, while socio-economic activities were disrupted.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, shortly after picketing the KEDCO head office, the Deputy President-General (North) of SSAEAC, Rilwan Shehu, lamented the lingering dispute between workers and the management.
“We are here to lock down activities because they failed to comply with so many agreements. Since 2014, we have struggled with issues ranging from non-remittance of pensions to settlement of death benefits and poor working environment.
“Many things are being sidelined,” he said.
Also speaking, the Vice President (North-West) of NUEE, Ado Gaya, accused KEDCO management of bias in recent staff promotions.
“Just recently, they conducted a promotion exercise. For the past ten or eleven years, you can find staff here without any promotion.
“But in their own personal interest, they are now doing selective promotions,” Gaya alleged.
However, in a swift reaction, the company denied the workers’ claims.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by KEDCO’s Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Bala Sani, the management said that since assuming office seven months ago, it has prioritised staff welfare and entitlements, implementing a structured welfare programme to address outstanding issues, particularly staff pensions.
“To date, over 80 per cent of the agreed 2025 pension remittances have been paid,” the statement said.
According to the statement, a transparent promotion exercise was recently conducted in line with company policy, resulting in the promotion of 1,500 eligible staff.
“KEDCO wishes to clarify that the recent picketing of its offices by the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) arose from legacy and current staff welfare concerns,” the statement read.
“Since assuming office seven months ago, the current management has prioritised staff welfare and entitlements, implementing a structured welfare programme to address outstanding issues, particularly staff pensions.
“To date, over 80 per cent of the agreed 2025 pension remittances have been paid,” it added.
Bala Sani said the management was actively engaging relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues and achieve lasting solutions.
“The company assures all stakeholders that employee welfare remains a top priority and that all necessary measures are being implemented to restore stability and maintain industrial harmony,” he added.
