…Call for Intervention from President, Ministers of Labour and Power, Oyo State Governor
By Taiwo Oluwadare
Electricity workers in Ibadan staged a protest against alleged unfair labor 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 meager 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 labor 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 labor.
The protesters also called for the enforcement of the federal government’s minimum wage policy, accusing their employers of denying them fair wages.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Managing Director of Premier International Procurement Logistics, Mr. Wale Adeniji, were unsuccessful, as he declined to speak with journalists.
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.
As of the time of this report, protesters remained at the entrance of the outsourcing firm, carrying placards with messages such as “Premier International Procurement Logistics, Stop Exploiting Us” and “IBEDC: We Deserve Equal Pay.” Many were seen stranded, appealing to the federal government for intervention.