NLC Protest Shuts down Kano, Katsina, Jigawa KEDCO Office Amidst Tight Security

- February 08, 2016

NLC Protest Shuts down Kano, Katsina, Jigawa KEDCO Office Amidst Tight Security

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) today shut down Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) over the recently upward review of electricity tariff by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The NLC leaders after shutting down the office, however met with the management of the distribution company behind closed doors.

The NLC also submitted a protest letter to the Special Advisor to the governor on Labour Matters, Isah Yunusa Danguguwa, for onward submission to President Muhammadu Buhari, through governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, insisted that they were against the tariff increase.

The letter read by the state Chairman of the NLC, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, said: "We consider the increase in the electricity tariff as illegal and unjustifiable. There is no significant improvement in the power supply. The increase does not look at the current economic recession.”

Minjibir assured the people that they would continue to protest against the increase, as directed by the national office of their union.

While responding also, the Special Advisor on Labour Matters to Governor Ganduje, Danguguwa stated that the state government was solidly behind the organised labour in their decision to kick against that tariff increase.

Danguguwa stressing that he would take the message to the governor intact.

"We are commending the organised labour for conducting themselves peacefully without wrecking any havoc in the streets.

“Be rest assured that the people's Governor Ganduje will take this message to President Muhammadu Buhari.

"Your position is also our position. We are aware of the pains you took in supporting both President Buhari and governor Ganduje, in their coming to power,” he said.

The KEDCO headquarters in Kano also stormed by armed security personnel in the wee hours of Monday before the arrival of protesters.

The NLC members in the city matched from post office road along KEDCO headquarters and led by the state Chairman of NLC, Kabiru Ado Minjibir.

In Katsina State, the NLC led by its Chairman, Tanimu Lawal Saulawa, also shut down the office of KEDCO which is the umbrella body under Kano distribution zone situated along Kano Road in Katsina city.

Personnel of Nigeria security and civil defence Corp (NSCDC) armed with guns blocked all the entrance of the office.

Addressing the crowds, Chairman of the labour Congress in the state, Saulawa told the gatherings of the union members that the Katsina Headquarter of KEDCO will remain closed until the government reverse the tariff increase.

Saulawa said: "Without bringing down the tariff, the protests will not end. We are not ready to pay for darkness. It is not done anywhere in the world”.

However, the Jigawa State chapter of the NLC conducted three hours protest in front of the state branch of KEDCO.

The protesters led by the Chairman of the NLC and students union also shut down the office of the KEDCO along Kiyawa road in Dutse city.

The Chairman of the NLC in the state, Usman Yau, said the protest was in line with directives from the labour headquarters over the increase of electricity tariff by the federal government.