Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has sharply denied allegations by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Oyo chapter that it terminated over 3,000 employees. In a detailed statement issued Friday, the distribution firm clarified that the affected individuals were not its direct employees, but outsourced personnel from Premier International Procurements & Logistics Limited (PIPLL).
IBEDC emphasized that the disputed terminations involved only 221 outsourced staff posted to work at the company, and that the responsibility for their employment and any subsequent actions lies solely with PIPLL. “The claim by the NLC (Oyo Branch) of sacking over 3,000 employees is completely false and misleading,” the statement read, urging the union, media, and public to note that IBEDC is not accountable for decisions made by its third-party partner.
The company also condemned the repeated calls for picketing, scheduled to begin on March 10, noting that such disruptions severely impact service delivery and inconvenience customers. “Picketing causes significant disruptions and inconveniences to customers, negatively impacting our ability to provide critical power services,” the statement added.
IBEDC warned that its ongoing business relationship with PIPLL is at serious risk due to the outsourcing firm’s “unprofessional handling” of the matter, and confirmed that the issue is now being addressed by PIPLL in coordination with the Ministry of Labour and the NLC.
As stakeholders await further developments, IBEDC reiterated its commitment to upholding ethical labor practices and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of electricity services, stressing that accurate public discourse is essential for maintaining trust and transparency in the sector.
