The National Union of
Electricity Employees (NUEE), on Monday took to the street to protest against non-payment of their severance package by the new owners of power distribution company.
The Tide learnt that the Ibadan, Oyo State protesting workers numbering about 200 people marched from the Union Building at Ring Road to the gate of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company singing solidarity songs.
The protesters, who staged a peaceful protest at the premises of the company, carried several placards with various inscriptions such as “Give the Remaining Casuals their Letters and Benefits”.
Mr Oloyede Alamu, the National Vice Chairman of the union told newsmen that the workers were protesting against the non-payment of their severance package by the new owners of the electricity company.
“The Union members are embarking on this protest to let those who bought the right know the plight of the workers who were yet to receive their severance allowance and benefits,’’ he said.
He noted that among other demands made by the protesting workers, are payment of pension deductions of about 48,000 workers since July 2012, payment of pension components to 25,000 workers.
Others include payment of death benefits for over 1,000 people who died in active service, entitlement of over 48,000 workers covering the period from July 2012 and payment of 10 per cent equity shareholding to workers.
He said that the workers decided to march to the office of the company at Iyana Adeoyo to create awareness on the plight of the workers who had been denied their severance package.
The vice chairman said that the workers took the steps to protest after the 14-day ultimatum over Human and Trade Union Rights abuses in the power sector served to the Ministry of Power had expired.
Reacting to the development, Mr Tokunbo Peters, the Principal Manager, Public Affairs, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company told the media that most of the demands by the workers were not meant for the company to address.
“The protesting workers are supposed to address their demands to the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) instead of coming to protest here at the premises of the company,’’ he said.
He said that the new investors were concerned with issues that happened from November 2013, when they took over till the present time, saying “we can only help to pursue the severance package”.
Mr Peters said that the management of the company later agreed to have a meeting with the leaders of the Union in the afternoon in its effort to find a solution to the crisis which may disrupt operations.