Electricity workers in Katsina State have embarked on an indefinite strike to protest the non-payment of pension entitlements allegedly withheld for over eight years.
The industrial action, which began on Wednesday, is being led by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and affects staff of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), responsible for power supply across Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states.
Confirming the development, NUEE’s Northwest Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Sani Muhammad Ahmad, told a local newspaper that the union sealed off KEDCO’s Katsina branch office along Kano Road following failed negotiations.
“Our members have been shortchanged — over 100 months of pension deductions remain unpaid. This indefinite strike is a last resort after exhausting all dialogue options,” he said while locking up the premises.
Comrade Sani accused KEDCO of deliberately withholding workers’ pension contributions, insisting the company has the financial strength to settle the backlog. He stressed that the strike would not be called off until all outstanding payments are made.
“We’re not just workers; we’re parents and breadwinners too. All we’re asking for is what we’ve rightfully earned,” he said, urging the public to support their cause.
The strike is expected to significantly disrupt electricity supply in Katsina, where union members are strictly enforcing the shutdown.
