FG sacks  AEDC management over workers’ strike

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

Following the industrial action embarked upon by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) on Monday, which threw many states into darkness, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, approved the suspension  of  the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

Consequently, he has appointed  an  interim governing board  to oversee the day-to-day operations of the electricity distribution company.

In a statement, Ofem Uket,  spokesman of the Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba,   said that  the sack of the management team which  was conveyed by the presidency to the Federal Ministry of Power takes immediate effect.

The Minister of Power,  Aliyu Abubakar and the Minister of State for Power,  Goddy Jedy Agba had earlier on  dialogued  with the Ministry of Labour, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees, (NUEE) to resolve and call off the 14-hour strike action.

Recall that  the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and parts of Edo states were in total blackout between 7  in the morning and  8 pm on Monday following the industrial action by the staff of AEDC.

“The presidential directives as conveyed,  has also directed the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to set up a new management team of the AEDC.

However,  in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) jointly signed by the Minister of State for Power,  Goddy Jedy Agba, the chairman,  Nigerian  Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sanusi Garba;  Director-General,  Bureau of Public Enterprises, Alex Okoli;  Comrade Joe Ajaero,  on behalf of the union, the Federal Government  ordered the suspension of the strike, giving  21 days within which the outstanding emoluments and entitlements of staff will be paid, the statement, noted

Meanwhile, the government has described the non performance and incompetence of  AEDC as a national embarrassment, saying that  the suspension of the management team subsists  until further notice.

Also, recall that the AEDC workers went on strike on Monday to protest the  non- payment of arrears of  pensions, allowances, salaries and promotions.