Protest; Kaduna Electric dismisses claims of casual staff
By; Amos Tauna, Kaduna
The Management of Kaduna Elctric, the operator of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company said it discovered that there existed a large number of casual workers in the employment of the Company who were being paid peanut the company and vowed not to contravene the nation’s labour regulations by recognizing or employing casual staff.
The Head, Corporate Communications of the Company, Abdulazeez Abdullahi made the affirmation during a press briefing in Kaduna and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to ensuring harmonious working relations with its staff and its utmost in providing a conducive working environment to enhance productivity.
Mr. Abdullahi who was reacting to a protest staged in Kaduna by a section of the former casual workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, said “In compliance with the extant national and international labour laws and conventions, this category of workers were given the opportunity to apply for full and more dignified employment. Most of them applied and went through the recruitment processes and the successful ones among them were employed”.
He described the protesters as those who failed to meet the requirements in the recently concluded recruitment exercise. He said the process has been adjudged by many as fair, an opportunity given to both internal staff and fresh candidates to gain employment.
He said only the best qualified candidates were recruited. “It is therefore factually incorrect and unfair to hold the current Management responsible for the plight of any group of people.”
He also stressed the contribution of the current Management of the company to the on-going fight against youth unemployment in the country through the provision of 3500 direct employment and about 15,000 indirect employment.
“The Company recently employed 3500 young men and women and shall create over 15,000 employment opportunities through third party vendor,” he stated.
He called on the protesters not to allow themselves to be misguided and to desist from any action that would endanger the fragile peace being enjoyed in the state, as the company would be compelled to take necessary steps to safeguard its properties and staff against any intimidation by the protesters. He also assured the company’s esteemed customers that the company’s offices shall be opened for them to continue to transact businesses.
