Resolving Power Quandary: The Kaduna Electricity Challenge

The management of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company has denied the allegation by workers of the company that it is deliberately rationing electricity supply to consumers in order to generate more revenue and save cost.

The workers under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), On Monday accused the management of the company of not investing any amount into the system since it took over last year.

The union, which staged a protest, says the company has focused more on re-cooping the funds it spent in acquiring the company, rather than turning it around for efficient service delivery.

The protesters claim the situation was responsible for the poor power supply in the state.

Aggrieved with the development, the workers embarked on a three day warning strike, but suspended it on Tuesday following further consultation between the union leaders and the management.

Addressing reporters on Tuesday on the issues raised by the workers, the Managing Director of the company, Garba Haruna, said the reason for the poor power supply across the states under the zone was as a result of the load shedding from the national grid.

He explained that the amount of power being received from the generating company was less than eight per cent, which he said was not sufficient to serve the states under the zone. Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi are getting supplies from the generating company.

Mr Haruna also debunked the workers’ allegation that the management deliberately stopped their medical entitlement when it took over, explaining that there was a debt of 400 million Naira medical bills, which the former management failed to settle before the privatisation exercise was concluded.

According to him, it was the hospitals that stopped offering services to the staff due to the debt.
He told the union that the company was making plans to re-instate a robust medical policy that would carter for the health needs of the workers.

Meanwhile, due to the load shedding, many parts of the state have been witnessing unsteady electricity supply.