Electricity workers at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company have embarked on an indefinite industrial action, escalating a long-running dispute over welfare, promotions, and workplace conditions, which has triggered widespread power outages across the Kano metropolis and nearby areas.
The strike followed the expiration of a deadline issued to KEDCO management, with workers accusing the company of failing to address longstanding grievances despite repeated engagements.
As the action took effect midweek, electricity supply was abruptly cut, disrupting businesses, households, and public services.
Union leaders say the protest is the culmination of years of unresolved issues.
Addressing journalists during a picketing exercise at the company’s headquarters, a senior union official described the situation as “a breaking point for workers who have waited patiently for commitments to be honoured.”
According to the unions, key concerns include unpaid pension contributions, unresolved death benefits, and what they describe as an unsafe and demoralising work environment.
“These are not new demands,” a labour leader said. “Some of these obligations date back more than a decade, yet workers are still being asked to keep faith.”
The National Union of Electricity Employees also raised concerns about staff career progression, alleging that recent promotion exercises were unfair.
A union representative claimed many employees had stagnated for years, while promotions were allegedly granted selectively.
“You cannot motivate workers when opportunities are perceived as biased,” he said.
However, KEDCO management has rejected the accusations, insisting that it has made significant progress since the current leadership took over.
In a statement issued by the company’s corporate communications unit, management said employee welfare had been placed at the centre of its reform agenda.
The company stated that a structured welfare programme was introduced to clear outstanding obligations, noting that a substantial portion of pension remittances for 2025 had already been settled.
Management also maintained that a recent promotion exercise was conducted transparently and in line with internal policies, resulting in the advancement of more than a thousand eligible staff.
“KEDCO acknowledges the concerns raised by the unions, many of which predate the current administration,” the statement said, adding that discussions with labour leaders and other stakeholders were ongoing to restore stability.
While negotiations continue, residents of Kano remain affected by the blackout, with many hoping for a swift resolution that would return electricity supply and avert further economic disruption.