The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has sealed the offices of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) across the Federal Capital Territory and three northern states following the dismissal of more than 900 employees. As of Wednesday morning, company facilities in Abuja, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Niger States were locked, halting standard administrative and operational activities in regions reliant on the power utility.
The shutdown follows a coordinated union protest on Tuesday, when NLC representatives picketed AEDC headquarters to challenge the workforce reduction. Union President Joe Ajaero explained that the dispute traces back approximately six months to management’s initial announcement that layoffs would be restricted to staff at or near statutory retirement age. According to union documents and internal communications, the dismissals instead targeted employees with limited tenure. Ajaero noted that many affected workers had served for fewer than six years, with several contracted for only two to three years. The union maintains that this approach contradicated earlier agreements reached during preliminary discussions.
In response to the mass disengagement, the NLC issued a 48-hour deadline on Tuesday, requiring management to present a resolution or face intensified industrial action. Ajaero warned that a prolonged work stoppage would directly impair AEDC’s operational capacity, potentially disrupting electricity distribution across the network. Union officials indicated that technical staff responsible for routine maintenance, metering, and grid monitoring may remain off duty if the company does not engage with the dismissed employees or offer revised exit terms.
Power distribution in Abuja and the surrounding states relies on continuous staffing to manage load balancing, address technical faults, and maintain customer service channels. Extended labour withdrawal typically reduces fault-response capacity and increases the risk of widespread service interruptions. The NLC has stated that it will communicate further details regarding escalated action once the 48-hour window expires, pending a formal response from AEDC management on the status of the dismissed workers.
