The management of Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) has assured its two in-house unions of total compliance to the contents of the just-signed Procedural Agreement.

This assurance was conveyed to the leadership of the two unions – National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) – by the Head of Human Resources & Administration, EEDC, Dr. Emmanuel Nwokolo, during the signing ceremony of the Procedural Agreement between the parties last week at EEDC Corporate Headquarters in Enugu.

Nwokolo, who represented the management of EEDC at the signing ceremony, recalled that the journey started four years ago and that the management was happy that it has come to a peaceful and successful end.

“This is a journey which started years ago with deliberations and counter deliberations, arguments and counter arguments, disagreements and agreements, all geared towards arriving at a unanimous set of guidelines for better relationship and coexistence between the workforce and the management of the EEDC,” he said.

While delivering his remark, Nwokolo enumerated some of the challenges the company is faced with, which include huge unpaid electricity bills by electricity customers, meter bypass, vandalism of power facilities, and all forms of illegalities. He then appealed to the Union to come up with ways of assisting the company to tackle the aforementioned challenges.

Speaking on behalf of NUEE, its General Secretary, Mr. Joe Ajaero, emphasised that in unionism and the fight for industrial harmony, there is no permanent friend, no permanent enemy.

He stated that with the Procedural Agreement and Conditions of Service in place, there will be mutual trust amongst the management, staff and the union, and this will definitely impact positively on productivity and revenue growth.

The SSAEAC spokesperson, Comrade Joseph Onwukanjo, who represented the President General, Engr. Chris Okonkwo, expressed joy as the parties have peacefully concluded negotiations on the procedural agreement and encouraged all parties to abide by its provisions.

In his own reaction, the State Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment, Mr. Umunna Chuka, who has been overseeing the negotiations between EEDC and the Unions charged the parties to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Procedural Agreements and Conditions of Service, entered into voluntarily, saying that it is a new beginning which will pave way for industrial peace and further advance EEDC as a business.

•PHOTO: L-R; The General Secretary, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Mr. Joe Ajaero; the Head of Human Resources & Administration, EEDC, Dr. Emmanuel Nwokolo and the State Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment, Mr. Umunna Chuka (behind), during the signing ceremony of the Procedural Agreement in Enugu last week