Why They Restored Power
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Power has been restored to Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi States after a five-day blackout caused by an industrial action from Kaduna Electric workers. The outage, which began last Monday, followed the sacking of 444 workers by the company’s management, plunging the states into darkness.
The resolution to end the strike came after a meeting convened by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, with both the management of Kaduna Electric and in-house labour unions. The meeting, held on Friday at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, concluded around 8 p.m. with both parties reaching an agreement.
Governor Uba Sani assured both sides of his commitment to fairness and promised to act as a guarantor to ensure mutual understanding. Following his intervention, the unions praised the governor for his role in resolving the dispute and commended Kaduna Electric’s Managing Director, Dr. Umar Abubakar Hashidu, for steering the company through challenging economic conditions.
The labour unions acknowledged the tough circumstances under which the management is operating and pledged their support to help the company succeed. Both sides also recognized that the conflict stemmed from a breakdown in communication and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to avoid future disputes.
The resolution highlighted the importance of compromise, stating that both management and labour must adopt a give-and-take attitude to maintain industrial harmony.
The agreement was signed by key stakeholders, including Dr. Umar Abubakar Hashidu, Managing Director of Kaduna Electric; Comrade Wisdom Nwachukwu, Vice President (Distribution) of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE); Comrade Rilwanu Shehu, Deputy President North of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC); Comrade Muhammed Musa, Deputy President North of NUEE; Comrade Haruna Ahmed Tinau, Deputy Secretary General (North); and Engr. Idris Ahmed Idris, Managing Director of Kaduna Power Supply Company.
Consumers across the affected states reported significant losses due to the prolonged outage, with many businesses and households struggling to cope with the unexpected blackout.
