SaharaReporters reported on January 14, 2024, that EKEDC or the Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) had been accused of covering up for top-level officers linked to ghost employee fraud.
The board and management of the Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) has said it has begun an investigation into the ghost workers saga and other corrupt practices allegedly going on in the company.
SaharaReporters reported on January 14, 2024, that EKEDC or the Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) had been accused of covering up for top-level officers linked to ghost employee fraud.
In the exclusive report, an investigation showed that there is a dark web of corruption going on in the organisation, which involved top management staff members. The staff members linked to the infractions were accused of aiding ghost workers in the company and earning millions of naira from the dubious dealings.
Sources who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity had revealed that the exact amount of money the management staff members fleeced the company could not be ascertained. However, they said it would be between N150million and N300million with a hefty chunk of it linked to one Wola Joseph, the EKEDP’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO).
On January 17, 2024, SaharaReporters also reported that an acting Principal Manager of Community Relations/CSR of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Ayiwe Peter had written the board of the company over what he described as an "Avalanche of Maladministration and Miscarriage of Justice in EKEDC".
Addressing workers through their union leaders during Union/ Eko Board Engagement on Monday, January 22, 2024, the company assured the workers that an investigation had been launched into the allegations and findings would be made public.
According to an insider source, the meeting had in attendance the "EKEDC Board Chairman, Board Director (1), immediate past Managing Director, NLC President, the top national leadership of NUEE, the top national leadership of SSAE and many NUEE functionaries at all levels."
The chairman of the board during the meeting the source said he commended the presence of the Congress President and the entire union functionaries for honouring the invite, and explained that meeting with the union without any management staff in attendance was to enable them to hear directly from the Union without any interference from the management.
In the letter received from the Union on the ghost workers saga, he disclosed that the Human Resource (HR) Board of the Company "is already on the investigation of the matter", pleading for a little time for the committee to come up with their report.
"He promised to make it open to all," the source said adding that the chairman also frowned at the report of SaharaReporters, wondering while the board was brought into the saga and hence pleaded that the Union and the staff should not destroy the brand built over time.
In his response, the Congress President on behalf of the Union thanked the board for the high sense of responsibility displayed in calling for the meeting.
"He told the representative of the board that the 1% stake of the workers is their concern to be protected in the running of the business," adding that the Union was very uncomfortable with the issue on the ground and how it is being handled.
The president insisted that there shouldn't be a Double Standard in handling issues in the company. "Whatever rule on the ground should be applied to all and make equity a standard."
He told the board according to the insider source, that the issue was not well managed and that was when it got to the press and social media.
"Other issues raised by the Congress President to be looked into by the board quickly before it gets out of hand include: "qualified staff that are still being denied promotion, high fatality being recorded in the line of duty which should be looked into with better insurance cover among others."
Meanwhile, a union member who spoke to SaharaReporters on anonymity said that if the Board was serious about unearthing the extent of rot, malfeasance, and felony perpetrated within the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKODISCO) they should create a portal outside the operations and network of the company to receive anonymous appraisals of the management staff.
The member revealed that many staff had complained and reported in hushed tones of the frauds and misconduct while the majority preferred to bottle up rather than stick out their necks for fear of the imminent consequences.
The source cited an example of long-standing blackmail of business managers by highly placed officials who insist on monthly returns if they wished to retain their positions. "Failure to comply results in transfers to less active districts or other departments or outright redundancy.
The union member wondered why a manager who is doing so well and ensuring good earnings for the company should be moved to a position that amounts to redundancy.
"The board is free to choose not to act on the appraisal verbatim, but it will be an eye opener and a guide in approving position placements, demanding accountability of management staff, tracking management failures, and approving promotions. Most importantly, it will ensure having on the ground a vibrant disciplined management."
The source raised the fear of an ugly trend currently taking centre stage in the workplace which he said if not checked could be explored to hinder staff progressions. "That is, the celebrations of high profile status individual management birthday in the office where the staff of the Celebrant is wittily compelled to compete in the presentation of cakes and other gift items.
"These staffs spend as much as fifty to a hundred thousand naira in competitions in a bid to gain the favour of the celebrant."
"I think birthday celebrations are a private affair to be sponsored by the celebrant in conjunction with willing contributors, but from the current trend in EKEDC, no doubts that it will eventually transmute to a vindictive act that shall be used to witchhunt staff in the system."
He said that at the end of each year, the staff is also compelled to contribute from their meager salary to the departmental end-of-year party even after the management had voted money for the same purpose.