Residents of Kwara State are currently enduring a total blackout following the commencement of an indefinite strike by workers of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Ilorin.
The strike, which began on Thursday, February 6, 2025, has worsened the already unreliable power supply in Ilorin and other parts of the state.
Some areas have been experiencing months of erratic electricity, forcing community leaders to demand urgent intervention.
Community Leaders Raise Alarm
The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), through its president, Alhaji AbdulMumini AbdulMalik, expressed deep dissatisfaction over the prolonged power crisis.
In a letter dated February 5, 2025, addressed to IBEDC’s management, AbdulMalik lamented that many parts of Ilorin and neighboring communities barely get six hours of electricity daily, while others have no power for days without any explanation.
Workers Protest Poor Welfare & Unpaid Benefits
Meanwhile, IBEDC workers in Kwara locked the gates of the company’s offices in Challenge and Ojatuntun-Baboko, bringing operations to a halt.
Their grievances include:
✔ Unpaid salaries & deductions (Pension funds, union fees, and cooperative contributions)
✔ Half salaries for staff
✔ Lack of work materials & tools
✔ Mass layoffs without proper compensation
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), through its state secretary, Comrade Ayodele Peters, accused IBEDC of treating workers unfairly.
He revealed that many laid-off employees would struggle to access their pension funds because IBEDC failed to remit their contributions.
IBEDC Yet to Respond
Efforts to get an official response from IBEDC’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Busolami Tunwase, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.
What’s Next?
With no resolution in sight, Kwara residents now face uncertainty over power supply, affecting businesses, homes, and security in the state.
Do You Think This Strike Will Force IBEDC to Act?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Leave a Reply