Electricity workers in Ibadan on Friday staged a protest against alleged unfair labour practices by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and its outsourcing agent, Premier International Procurement Logistics. They accused the companies of engaging staff under exploitative conditions, denying them hazard allowances, and withholding rightful payments.
The protesters gathered at IBEDC’s office in the Ring Road area before moving to the premises of the recruitment outsourcing agent. They claimed that many workers had remained casual employees for years, earning meagre salaries with no prospects of full employment.
Speaking with newsmen on Friday, one of the casual workers, Oluwatobiloba Omisore, alleged that IBEDC and its recruitment agent subjected employees to excessive labour without fair compensation. Another protester, Olaoye Luqman, urged the President of Nigeria, the Ministers of Labour and Power, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene. He emphasized that as Nigerians, they deserve fair treatment and the right to dignity in labour.
The protesters also called for the enforcement of the federal government’s minimum wage policy, accusing their employers of denying them fair wages.
Meanwhile, IBEDC’s Head of Branding and Corporate Communications, Angela Olanrewaju, clarified that the company does not have casual workers, as those roles have been outsourced.
