Strike: Kano Electricity Company accuses union of plunging millions into darkness 

The management of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has queried the actions of the Electricity Workers Union over the withdrawal of power supply and the shutdown of the company’s operations, which affected millions of people across its franchise areas in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.

The Managing Director of the company, Dr Abubakar Shuaibu Jimaita, reacting to the shutdown over issues bordering on allowances and legacy payments, said the union’s actions were morally wrong and constituted a bad precedent, as they put the lives of millions of people in jeopardy over what he described as internal matters.

Speaking to journalists in Kano on Tuesday, Dr Jimaita noted that issues relating to legacy unpaid funds had already been resolved with the union, stressing that management had not reneged on any agreement reached.

He said, “We have assured them to be paying the legacy money which we inherited from 2019 alongside the January 2026 salary and we have fully commenced paying up to 15 out of 19 months. So why the shut down?”

Dr Jimaita recalled that the privatisation exercise took place in 2013, and that he assumed office in 2025 through Future Energy Africa Investors, adding that the co-investors took time to ensure that all pending matters were resolved amicably.

“Now I’m seven months old in the company, and I can tell you that on the very first day I assumed office, the union picketed KEDCO that they have unresolved matters which is the legacy issues and pension.

“We agreed that we will be paying pension and one month arrears out of the total money. We paid 15 out of 19 scheduled money to be paid,” he said.

He further explained that there were appraisal issues covering the period from 2019 to 2025, with outstanding payments totalling N510 million, noting that management was gradually settling the liabilities.

According to him, since the takeover by Future Energy Africa in 2025, efforts have been intensified to make the company more competitive, including an investment of N1.3 billion to improve power supply at Dawanau International Grains Market.

He added that these measures were part of a broader effort to position KEDCO as one of the best distribution companies in Nigeria.

“For the past five years when we came on board, our staff were not promoted. Out of the total staff of 2000, we promoted over 1500. The serious challenges of over ten years on ground could not be tackled at once; there must be careful plans and strategy”, he added.

Strike: Kano Electricity Company accuses union of plunging millions into darkness