- Kano In Darkness As KEDCO Workers Declare Indefinite Strike
- Unions accuse management of unpaid benefits and selective promotions.
- KEDCO denies claims and says staff welfare remains a priority
Residents of Kano metropolis and surrounding communities were plunged into darkness on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, following an indefinite strike by workers of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, over alleged poor working conditions.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the industrial action was jointly declared by the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies and the National Union of Electricity Employees after the company’s management failed to meet workers’ demands at the expiration of an ultimatum issued on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The strike led to the suspension of electricity supply across Kano and its environs, disrupting socio economic activities in several parts of the state. Businesses, health facilities and households were affected as power supply was cut shortly after workers downed tools.
Members of the two unions on Wednesday picketed the KEDCO headquarters, barricading the entrance and halting official activities at the premises.
Speaking during the protest, the Deputy President General North of SSAEAC, Rilwan Shehu, said the strike became unavoidable due to management’s failure to honour agreements reached with workers over several years.
“We are here to lock down activities because they failed to comply with so many agreements.
“Since 2014, we have struggled with issues ranging from non remittance of pensions to settlement of death benefits and poor working environment. Many things are being sidelined,” Shehu said.
Also speaking, the Vice President North West of NUEE, Ado Gaya, accused the management of bias in its recent promotion exercise.
“Just recently, they conducted a promotion exercise. For the past ten or eleven years, you can find staff here without any promotion,” Gaya alleged.
“But in their own personal interest, they are now doing selective promotions.”
KEDCO management, however, denied the allegations, insisting that staff welfare has remained a priority under the current leadership.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Bala Sani, the company said it inherited both legacy and current staff welfare challenges and has taken steps to address them.
“KEDCO wishes to clarify that the recent picketing of its offices by the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies and the National Union of Electricity Employees arose from legacy and current staff welfare concerns,” the statement said.
According to the company, over 80 percent of agreed 2025 pension remittances have been paid within the last seven months. KEDCO also dismissed claims of selective promotions, stating that the exercise was transparent and conducted in line with company policy, with 1,500 eligible staff promoted.
The company added that it was engaging relevant stakeholders to resolve the dispute and restore normal electricity supply.
