Socio-economic activities were on Wednesday paralysed as Kaduna State was thrown into total blackout, following the nationwide strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress which entered second day.
Organised labour declared the nationwide strike following the alleged brutality of the NLC President,Comrade Joe Ajaero in Owerri, Imo state last week. The National Union of Electricity Employees led BuKat Barde, ensured that electricity workers withdrew their services for the assault on the Comrade Ajaero.
Power supply was interrupted across the company’s franchise states, forcing the management of the company to apologise to its esteemed customers. This was just as the headquarters of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company on Bank Road by Ahmadu Bello Way in the city centre, remained under lock and key. Staff and customers were shut out completely.
According to Abdulazeez Abdullahi Head, Corporate Communication of Kaduna Electric, the outage within the franchise was as result of the nationwide strike.
A statement titled: ‘Outage Within Our Franchise Due to Strike Action,’ read,”We regret to announce that the outage being experienced in our franchise states is due to the strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress and its affiliate unions.
“The action has necessitated the shutting down of all 33KV feeders by the striking workers. We hope the impasse between the federal government and the Unions shall be resolved soonest so that power supply can be restored.We regret all inconveniences.”
Officials of the officials of the the National Union of Electricity Employees, had vowed to ensure full compliance as the nationwide strike last. The North West Zonal Organising Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Bukat Barde, had while reacting, said the brutal attack on the NLC President was assault to Nigerian workers which must not be allowed swept under the carpet. Meanwhile, the State Secretariat along the ever busy Independence Way which was opened to workers on Tuesday, was locked by officials of the labour union in the state.
