Jos electricity coy begs workers to pursue dialogue path

The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), on Monday, called on the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to pursue dialogue as the only civil means for resolving issues.

JED made the call in view of the ongoing protest by NUEE demanding the welfare of workers among other complaints.

Responding swiftly, the spokesperson for JED, Hajiya Lubabatu A. Rabiu said the Jos Electricity Distribution Company has maintained constant dialogue with the union on issues raised and has fashioned out ways in resolving them.

Rabiu, in a press statement signed and made available to Daily Times stated in part, “in line with the on-going protest embarked upon by the National Union of Electricity Employee (NUEE), JED wishes to state that talks with the NUEE has been on-going before now and we shall continue to dialogue with them to resolve all complaints.

Among the issues raised by NUEE, we are oblige to inform you that no staff has been relieved of his or her duty without a genuine reason bothering on the terms and conditions of this organisation.

“The disparity in salary as part of their grievances is however unfortunate as there is no organisation in the world where salaries are not based on qualification and term of service. For instance, you don’t expect an SSCE holder to earn same as a BSC holder.

“The management, however, wishes to inform the general public that things does not seems to look like the way they are been projected and that we shall continue to do everything within our province to ensure the welfare of our teeming staff and the general public at large”, she said.

Earlier, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), on Monday morning sealed the premises of JED for what they called anti-workers policy of the company.

As against this background NUEE gave the Management of JED seven days ultimatum to recall the sacked Vice President North East of the association and over 50 staff without justifiable reason.

NUEE said this action is a surprise to the union giving the commitment of the workers to the job, saying the sack is anti-workers policy.

In a letter signed by Comrade John Sule, Assistant General Secretary NUEE, it said that the development is coming barely three months the management of the company relieved some workers of their duties.

The Assistant General Secretary, while also addressing staff of the company who sealed the entrance to the company protesting the alleged sacking of staff and poor condition of service said enough of customer exploitation.

Some of the placard carried by some of the staff also read ‘NUEE say no to sack of workers without justification’, ‘Privatisation is evil, reverse it’, ‘Give us light not darkness’ and ‘no justice, no Peace’.