The union had accused the management of the power distribution company of collaborating with the board members to perpetrate corruption, which it said would eventually ruin the establishment.
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) on Tuesday resumed its suspended picketing of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) headquarters in Marina, Lagos State.
SaharaReporters had reported that the union had picketed the Eko Electricity Distribution Company headquarters in Marina, Lagos, over an alleged attempt to cover up corruption in the company.
The union had accused the management of the power distribution company of collaborating with the board members to perpetrate corruption, which it said would eventually ruin the establishment.
But the union in a memo obtained by SaharaReporters during the weekend announced the suspension of the action, noting that the board of directors/Eko Management responded to the letter the union sent to them.
However, SaharaReporters gathered that the union in the early hours of Tuesday resumed the suspended picketing of the EKEDC office on the grounds that the board/management of the company refused to maintain the status quo by keeping all those alleged to be involved in the ongoing corruption scandal to stay away from office pending the conclusion of investigation as earlier agreed by both parties.
A source told SaharaReporters that the protesting workers are insisting that the EKEDP’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Mrs. Wola Joseph, who has since last week resumed office, should be asked to stay away from the office in order not to create room to compromise the investigation.
The source said, “NEUU this morning at 5 am resumed picketing of EKEDC office, marina this morning on the grounds that the board/management refused to maintain the status quo by keeping all those alleged to be involved in the ongoing corruption scandal to stay away from office pending the conclusion of investigation as earlier agreed by both parties.
“They are insisting that Mrs Wola, who has since last week resumed office, should be asked to stay away from the office in order not to create room to compromise the investigation.
“Instead of upholding status as agreed, policemen were said to be brought in by the management/board to disrupt the workers' picketing exercise.
“Some of the workers spoke to express fear that with the way things are going on in the company, the company is likely to gradually wind down.”
When SaharaReporters contacted the Safety official of the EKEDC, Mr. Ayo Obisanya, on the phone for reaction, he rudely shouted, “I will talk to you later oga!. I will talk to you later!!”
SaharaReporters reported in January that Eko Electricity Distribution Plc 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 involves 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 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 N150 million and N300 million with a hefty chunk of it linked to one Wola Joseph, the EKEDP’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO).
However, petitions by Ayiwe Peter, an AG Principal Manager Community Relations/CSR addressed to the Chairman/Board members of the electricity company, dated February 13, 2023, and December 18, 2023, respectively, called on the Board to investigate the “mismanagement of the company by the present management”.