Staff of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in several Osun State towns shut down company offices on Thursday in protest against the alleged dismissal of their colleagues.
The demonstration, which began early in Osogbo, Ede, and Ilesa, disrupted power supply across the state, particularly in the capital, Osogbo.
IBEDC offices in Ilaje, Ilesa, Oja Timi, Ede Business Hub, and the Ikirun Business Unit were locked as protesting workers stayed away from their duty posts.
A leader of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in Osun, speaking anonymously, said the protest was triggered by the sacking of several team leaders for failing to meet revenue targets.
“The protest is due to the dismissal of many team leaders, which is linked to their inability to meet IBEDC’s revenue targets. This is the reason for the blackout across the state,” the NUEE official stated.
IBEDC Responds to the Protest
In response, IBEDC’s management, through a statement signed by its Coordinating Head of Corporate Services, Angela Olanrewaju, reaffirmed its commitment to service excellence and staff welfare.
The company urged customers and stakeholders to ignore reports of a strike, clarifying that the action was a picket organised by NUEE.
“One concern raised was the alleged unfair dismissal of certain staff members. However, these employees were let go due to consistently poor performance, in line with company policies and procedures,” the statement read.
IBEDC also assured staff of its commitment to their welfare, emphasising that despite economic challenges, full salaries have been consistently paid.