Blackout: Over 20 million people suffer losses in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi states

…As electricity ‘employees down tools over sack of members

From Sola Ojo, Abuja

A n industrial action embarked upon by the Kaduna Electric-based National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) recently, has thrown businesses in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states into deep losses.

• NUEE members at the company’s entrance during the recent strike.

The strike, which was sparked by the dismissal of 444 staff of the Kaduna Electric contrary to initial 900 claims, resulted in a blackout that affected production, post-production and general social activities in the region of over 20 million population.

Although there were similar actions by the NUEE, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the past, but they were partial for few days.

For instance, in 2019, NUEE embarked on a nationwide strike over unpaid benefits and poor working conditions, leading to a blackout in parts of the country. 

Similarly in 2014, the labour union went on strike over the privatization of the power sector.

While a few businesses were able to switch to alternative energy sources like solar and generating sets, a lot of micro-businesses which drive the economy of the affected states were practically shut down between February 3 and 8, 2025.

Before the intervention by the Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, the labour unions declined all reconciliatory efforts to restore power after five days of total blackouts in Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara franchise states of Kaduna Electric.

The unions allegedly took two actions, including cutting off the power supply in these states and shutting Kaduna Electric’s offices.

A credible source in Kaduna Electric who spoke in confidence said that even when the management of Kaduna Electric accepted that it made a mistake in computing the exit packages of affected staff and was ready to renegotiate with the union; the unions refused to stand down on their decision ab initio – recall sacked workers or nothing.

NUEE State Council Chairman, Comrade Sheyi Nuhu Wakili, disclosed that the intervention of the state government has yielded a lot of impact.

“We truly appreciated the efforts of the state governor, Senator Uba Sani, who was heavily represented by his Deputy, Hajiya Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, in the disagreement over the sacking of our members by Kaduna Electric.

“We gave them two options, that’s either to pay the workers their exit packages, which can be negotiated, or they go back and withdraw that error letters of mass sack issued to about 450 employees, as other 450 await their letters, making it 900 workers.

“The condition of service says if you are sacking somebody, call the union to discuss his exit package. But they went ahead to sack these people over the weekend, which contradicts the condition of service,” he said.

The union man, however, apologised to the public for the inconvenience, urging them to hold the Kaduna Electric management accountable for any damage caused during the exercise for not following the laydown rules.

But in a rescheduled meeting that lasted for a few hours into the night of Friday, February 8, presided over by Governor Uba Sani, eventually resolved the industrial dispute between Kaduna Electric and its labour unions after both parties made a little compromise to their earlier stands.

The management of Kaduna Electric and the labour unions acknowledged that they are partners in progress, saying that communication breakdown led to the dispute.

The resolutions included the management’s agreement to review its past actions, the labour unions’ agreement to restore electricity to the affected states, and a commitment to joint decision-making. 

Governor Sani, who promised to ensure fairness to both sides, was praised by the unions for his intervention.

The meeting ended on a positive note, with the singing of solidarity songs by both the labour unionists and management staff. 

The resolutions were signed by key stakeholders, including Dr Umar Abubakar Hashidu, managing director of Kaduna Electric, and Comrade Engr. Wisdom Nwachukwu, vice president, Distribution of the National Union of Electricity Employees.

The resolution of the dispute is expected to bring relief to residents and businesses in the affected states, who had been impacted negatively by the power outage.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Kaduna Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Dr Usman Garba, has cautioned against the mass dismissal of workers without following due process.

He told Sunday Sun that, the blackout had a devastating impact on businesses, particularly those involved in the production of perishable products. 

“A humongous amount of money has been lost. Those who are into the production of perishable products could not produce through that week because they cannot preserve their products”, he said.

Dr Garba emphasized the need for both parties to be on the same page before taking such drastic measures, warning that “taking such steps without recourse to processes and procedures will not only affect them, but it will also affect the existing businesses and the future ones.

“We have not conducted any survey on that unfortunate development, although we were overwhelmed with the reports we received from our members regarding the closure of their businesses because some of them had to use a generating set while some of them could not do anything. 

“Such development is not good especially now that we are wooing investors to the North. It affected Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states. So, it was a big loss that has occurred. 

“We are not apportioning blames; we just want to advise to involve the stakeholders. Yes, employers have the right to hire and fire, but there are processes for doing either of the two”