AEDC confirms mass sack of staff, cites restructuring

Tony Elumelu’s AEDC lays-off 800 staff amid epileptic energy provide

The Abuja Electrical energy Distribution Firm (AEDC), an influence distribution agency owned by billionaire businessman, Tony Elumelu, has confirmed the mass layoff of its staff amid persistent energy outages throughout the nation.

The Witness had earlier reported that the DisCo laid off over 800 workers in an train that started on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, whilst Nigerians proceed to battle with rising inflation, excessive residing prices, and erratic electrical energy provide.

AEDC energy distribution agency serves the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Niger, and Nasarawa States.

Sources throughout the firm mentioned administration had initially deliberate to sack 1,800 staff, however the determine was later decreased to 800 after tense negotiations with the Nationwide Union of Electrical energy Staff (NUEE) and the Senior Employees Affiliation of Electrical energy and Allied Firms (SSAEC).

A duplicate of one of many disengagement letters, titled “Notification of Disengagement from Service” and dated November 5, 2025, was signed by Adeniyi Adejola, AEDC’s Chief Human Assets Officer.

In a press release made accessible to The Witness on Friday, AEDC defined that the restructuring was a part of its new strategic path aimed toward making the corporate extra agile, modern, and customer-centric.

As a part of the transformation, we now have promoted high-performing employees, launched retiring workers and people performing under par, and have put in movement the implementation of a strong worker improvement and buyer administration plan aimed toward driving our customer-centric focus.

“AEDC is dedicated to offering dependable, protected, and sustainable electrical energy to its prospects throughout its touchpoints, supporting the expansion and improvement of Nigeria’s power sector. the corporate mentioned.

The mass retrenchment underscores the deepening disaster in Nigeria’s energy sector, which continues to endure from poor infrastructure, weak investments, and low value restoration regardless of greater than a decade of privatisation reforms.

AEDC narrowly escaped regulatory suspension final 12 months following disputes over fee defaults and administration modifications that had beforehand rocked the corporate in 2021 and 2023.

In Might 2025, the Federal Authorities fined the corporate ₦1.69 billion for overbilling customers. In response to a supplementary order issued that month, the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (NERC) mentioned the penalty was imposed because of AEDC’s failure to adjust to its “order on non-compliance with capping of estimated payments,” in addition to a evaluation of extra knowledge submitted by the corporate.

Observers worry the most recent layoffs may additional pressure the already overstretched workforce and deepen buyer dissatisfaction, notably in Abuja and neighbouring states, the place residents regularly complain about erratic energy provide and arbitrary billing.