Workers of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) have taken to the streets in protest against what they described as poor wages and lack of concern about their welfare.
The demonstration, which began earlier on Friday, February 7, along 14th Avenue, Oluyole Estate, was a peaceful protest
The aggrieved workers, carrying different placards with inscriptions such as “No More Slave Wages!” and “Better Pay, Better Service!”, vowed to continue their industrial action until their demands are met.
The angry workers who were recruited by Premier International Procurement Logistics Limited (PIPLL) as the outsourcing agent that conducted recruitment service for IBEDC, alleged that for many years they have been working for the electricity distribution company, there has neither been any promotion nor wage increase.
They also alleged among other things that healthcare insurance and mortgage deductions were made from their meager salary at the end of every month with no traces of where the deductions were going to.
Some of the protesters who spoke with newsmen disclosed that they have been on a salary structure of between 45,000 (forty five thousand naira) to 50,000 (fifty thousand naira only) for a long long time ranging from five to eight years of service without any effort to improve on the situation.
They also alleged that despite their years of experience on the job and the expertise garnered, the casual workers have been neglected for consideration as permanent staff with better working conditions.
According to representatives of the protesting workers, their demands include reasonable increase in salaries to reflect the current economic realities, improved working conditions, including better welfare packages, and an end to alleged unfair labor practices such as placing workers on temporary service otherwise called casual workers for several years without promotion or wage increase.
Speaking to journalists, one of the protest coordinators who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity for fear of being vilified, lamented the hardship faced by the angry workers. “The cost of living has skyrocketed, yet our salaries remain stagnant. We cannot continue like this,” he said.
The protesting workers who alleged that they work under compelling terms of service with humongous monthly targets, condemned IBEDC’s management for allegedly neglecting the welfare of the protesting employees. They urged the company to shun what was described as a ‘hide and seek’ game, and to engage in a dialogue to resolve the dispute rather than any attempt to suppress the protest.
“We have tried on multiple occasions to negotiate with the management, but our concerns have been ignored. This protest will continue until they listen and act,” another leader of the protest declared while speaking to journalists.
The angry workers appealed to the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu and all relevant authorities at both state and federal levels to immediately intervene in the interest of peace, vowing to sustain the protest until their demands are met.
Mr Wale Adeniji, the Managing Director of PIPLL, who came out to address the protesters with a view to calming down the tension however, declined comments when journalists sought his reaction to the ongoing industrial action.
This online newspaper had earlier reported that the management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has dismissed reports that its employees had embarked on a strike and reassured customers of the company’s continued commitment to service excellence and staff welfare.
Angela Olanrewaju, IBEDC Coordinating Head of Corporate Services made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday, February 5, clarifying that the event in question was not a strike but a picket organized by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE).
According to the IBEDC, the union’s concerns which included allegations of unfair dismissal of certain employees and other welfare-related issues were baseless while maintaining that the affected staff members were let go due to consistent poor performance, with all terminations carried out in accordance with the company’s Conditions of Service.
“IBEDC remains dedicated to the well-being of its employees and has consistently ensured that salaries are paid in full every month, despite the economic challenges in the country,” the statement read in part.