){kind=link}
Kaduna Electric has confirmed the disengagement of 450 employees, countering claims by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) that over 900 staff members were affected.
The development has triggered a statewide blackout in Kaduna, now entering its second day, as electricity workers embarked on a strike on Monday to protest the layoffs.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kaduna State NUEE Chairman, Comrade Sheyin Nuhu Wakili, insisted that no worker should be disengaged without full payment of entitlements.
He also alleged that during a meeting with the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday, Kaduna Electric agreed to withdraw the disengagement letters but later reneged on the agreement.
Supporting the strike, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) Kaduna Branch President Comrade Baffa Safiyanu Isyaku stated that power restoration remains impossible as key personnel responsible have been disengaged.
He urged the public to empathize with the workers, emphasizing their responsibilities toward their families.
In response, Kaduna Electric’s Head of Corporate Communication, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, clarified that the company is undergoing a major transformation to ensure long-term sustainability.
He reassured the public of the company’s commitment to transparency and fairness while acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the blackout.