Nigeria: AEDC Sacks 800 Non-Performing Employees

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has confirmed the commencement of a restructuring exercise as part of its corporate strategy, resulting in the dismissal of employees who performed below expectations.

In a statement on Thursday, the company said it had released retiring employees and promoted high-performing staff.

“As part of the transformation, we have promoted high-performing staff, released retiring employees and those performing below par, and have put in motion the implementation of a robust employee development and customer management plan aimed at driving our customer-centric focus,” the statement said.

Although AEDC’s statement did not disclose the number of affected employees, a report by The Punch indicated that about 800 workers were laid off in the sweeping retrenchment exercise.

The mass layoff, which reportedly began on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, follows months of internal restructuring at the utility firm, which serves the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Niger, and Nasarawa States.

Reports suggested that management had initially proposed to dismiss 1,800 workers but reduced the number to 800 after a series of tense negotiations with the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).

“The management wanted to sack 1,800, but after much pressure, they brought it down to 800. The unions initially insisted that nobody should be sacked,” an employee who pleaded anonymity said to avoid victimisation.

Another source familiar with the development told The Punch that the affected employees were originally scheduled to receive their letters on Monday, but the process was delayed until Wednesday.

“The unions first said nobody should be sacked, but later they allegedly agreed to 800. The affected staff were supposed to start receiving their letters from Monday, but it was delayed, and then yesterday, the affected staff started receiving letters,” the source said.