28th April, 2014
The Headquarters of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) located on Apkapkava Road in Benin City was Monday was shut down by Electricity workers under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Company (SSAEC) over terms of engagement.
Led by leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in Edo Delta states and the Chairman of NUEE in Edo State, Comrade Godwin Idahosa, the protesters completely ensured that the gates of BEDC were locked to business with customers not able to enter the premises.
Mr. Idahosa who addressed journalists at the venue of the protest, said they were left with no other option than to take to the streets since the Mrs. Funke Osibodu-led management of BEDC has refused to honour the agreement reached with the unions at a meeting held in the office of Edo State Commissioner of Establishment and Special Duties, Comrade Didi Adodo on 9 April.
“We are protesting because BEDC management has continued with its fraudulent dealing with both workers and the public since the sale of PHCN. We planned to remain here every day until after May Day celebrations,” the union leader said.
It was reliably gathered that all the unions and officials attended the tripartite meeting that Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole directed the Commissioner to convey with the workers and BEDC so as to broker peace.
It was further gathered that BEDC management has refused to honour any of the agreements it reached at the meeting even when it was supposed to report back with evidence of fulfilment within two weeks.
Some of the issues debated and believably resolved at the meeting included the deduction of union dues from members, which was allegedly stopped by BEDC management since November last year; recall of laid-off union leaders; the payment of bulk rent; payment of staff leave grant for 2013; payment of 13th month salary, which BEDC management allegedly stopped in spite of a directive from the Ministry of Power in Abuja on the issue; the non-remission of check-off dues in respect of Senior Staff Association in Asaba and Agbor in Delta State, which BEDC had promised to rectify and pay before Friday, 11 April, but has refused to do until now.
Other issues include the non-payment of November and December 2013 salaries to workers not paid severance allowance but who worked for the period.