The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress brought operations at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to a standstill on Tuesday, staging a massive protest over the recent dismissal of over 3,000 employees.
Led by its Chairman, Kayode Martin, the union members barricaded the entrance to the IBEDC office, shutting down the facility and causing traffic disruption in the Challenge to Dugbe area of Ibadan.
The protesters, chanting solidarity songs, demanded the immediate reinstatement of the sacked workers and the payment of the national minimum wage.
Martin therefore condemned the actions of outsourcing agents associated with IBEDC, accusing them of exploiting workers through unpaid minimum wages and unexplained salary deductions.
“We are here today to express our total displeasure over the unjust and inhumane treatment of workers by IBEDC and their outsourcing agents.
“Over 3,000 workers have been thrown into the unemployment market without any justifiable reason. These are people who have dedicated their time and energy to this company, and they are now being treated like disposable items,” Martin said.
The NLC Chairman also highlighted the issue of unpaid minimum wage and the alleged exploitation of workers by outsourcing companies.
