The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Friday declared that the claim by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo state chapter, on sacking of over 3,000 employees was completely false and misleading.
IBEDC in a statement maintained that those affected by the said sack were outsourced personnel of Premier International Procurements & Logistics Limited (PIPLL), a third-party human resource outsourcing firm, who seconded the staff to IBEDC.
It stated that the affected persons were 221 and “not employees of IBEDC, and as such, IBEDC is not responsible for their termination or any potential reinstatement”.
“Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) once again wishes to address and correct the ongoing misinformation surrounding the alleged unlawful termination of 221 staff,” it said.
IBEDC added, “We would like to categorically state that the claim by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State chapter, of sacking over 3,000 employees is completely false and misleading.
“For clarity, the individuals involved were outsourced personnel of Premier International Procurements & Logistics Limited (PIPLL), a third-party human resource outsourcing firm, who seconded the staff to IBEDC. They were not employees of IBEDC, and as such, IBEDC is not responsible for their termination or any potential reinstatement.IBEDC strongly rejects any misleading narratives that unfairly attempt to associate IBEDC with this issue.”
IBEDC stressed, “These reports not only misrepresent the facts but also undermine public discourse, potentially misleading both the general public and key stakeholders.”
It then urged the NLC, the media, and the public to take note that the affected individuals were never employees of IBEDC,” saying, “PIPLL, as the official employer, is totally responsible for its employees and must take the necessary actions to provide clarity and resolution to its staff.
“Furthermore, IBEDC have expressly informed PIPLL that its continued business relationship with IBEDC is at serious risk due to its unprofessional handling of this matter.As a business, we also strongly condemn the repeated calls for picketing, which cause significant disruptions and inconveniences to our customers, negatively impacting our ability to provide critical power services (essential service) that are vital for driving economic growth.
“Finally, we aware that PIPLL has begun engaging all relevant parties namely, the disengaged PIPLL personnel, Ministry of Labour and the NLC. IBEDC remains dedicated to upholding ethical labor practices, corporate responsibility, and excellence in service. Our primary focus continues to be the delivery of reliable electricity services to our valued customers.”