The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company has commenced a sweeping retrenchment exercise affecting about 800 employees, even as Nigerians continue to reel under rising inflation, soaring living costs, and erratic power supply.

The mass layoff, which 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.

Multiple sources familiar with the development within the company told our correspondent on Thursday that the management had initially proposed to sack 1,800 workers before reducing the number to 800 after a series of tense negotiations with the National Union of Electricity Employees and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies.

One of the sources, who is an AEDC employee, said the management had initially planned to sack 1,800 workers but reduced the number to 800 after pressure from the unions, which had at first insisted that no employee should be laid off.

“The management wanted to sack 1800, but after much pressure, they brought it down to 800. The unions initially insisted that nobody should be sacked,” the employee, who pleaded not to be named in order not to be victimised, stated.

“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,” another source familiar with the development revealed.

A sample of the disengagement letter titled “Notification of Disengagement from Service”, sighted by The PUNCH, dated November 5, 2025, and signed by AEDC’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Adeniyi Adejola, confirmed that the exercise was part of an “ongoing rightsizing process.”

The letter also stated that all affected staff would be paid their due entitlements upon completion of an exit clearance process.

The letter read in part, “We regret to inform you that your services with the company will no longer be required, effective 5th November 2025. This decision follows the outcome of the company’s ongoing rightsizing exercise. Please be assured that this decision was made after careful consideration and in accordance with company policy.

“You are kindly required to complete the Exit Clearance process in your Zone and return any company property in your possession before your final exit to your HR Business Partner. , Completion of these formalities will be required before the processing of your exit payment.

“Please note that applicable deductions, including PAYE, check-off dues, outstanding loans, and unretired advances (if any), will be made in accordance with company policy and relevant statutory provisions. AEDC acknowledges your contributions during your period of service and extends best wishes for success in your future endeavours.”

The mass layoff at AEDC underscores the deepening crisis in Nigeria’s power sector, which continues to face low investment, weak infrastructure, and poor cost recovery despite over a decade of reforms.

Last year, AEDC’s operational licence narrowly escaped regulatory suspension following disputes over payment defaults and management changes, notably in 2021 and 2023. The company, now privately managed, has been under mounting pressure from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to improve service delivery and reduce energy losses.

This new round of job cuts could further strain an already overstretched workforce and deepen customer dissatisfaction, especially in Abuja and surrounding states, where residents have long complained about poor electricity supply and arbitrary billing.

When contacted, the company’s Head of Customer Experience, Kenechukwu Ofili, confirmed the sacking of workers by the power firm. He, however, stated that it was a normal routine exercise. He added that, “a statement would be released. The process is ongoing and is being handled in line with the agreed framework.”

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US forces on Thursday struck another alleged drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean, killing three people, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said, bringing the death toll from Washington’s controversial anti-narcotics campaign to at least 70.

The United States began carrying out such strikes which experts say amount to extrajudicial killings even if they target known traffickers, in early September, taking aim at vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

The US strikes have destroyed at least 18 vessels so far — 17 boats and a semi-submersible — but Washington has yet to make public any concrete evidence that its targets were smuggling narcotics or posed a threat to the United States.

Hegseth released aerial footage on X of the latest strike, which he said took place in international waters like the previous strikes and targeted “a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organisation.”

The video showed a boat travelling through the water before exploding into flames.

“Three male narco-terrorists — who were aboard the vessel — were killed,” Hegseth said, without any further identifying information.

“To all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you keep trafficking deadly drugs — we will kill you,” he wrote.

Like some previous videos released by the US government, a section of the boat is obfuscated for unspecified reasons.

President Donald Trump’s administration has built up significant forces in Latin America, in what it says is its campaign to stamp out drug trafficking.

So far, it has deployed six Navy ships in the Caribbean, sent F-35 stealth warplanes to Puerto Rico, and ordered the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group to the region.

The governments and families of those killed in the US strikes have said many of the dead were civilians — primarily fishermen.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly accused Trump of seeking to oust him.

US bombers have also conducted shows of force near Venezuela, flying over the Caribbean Sea off the country’s coast on at least four occasions since mid-October.

Maduro — who has been indicted on drug charges in the United States — insists there is no drug cultivation in his country, which he says is used as a trafficking route for Colombian cocaine against its will.

The Trump administration has said in a notice to Congress that the United States is engaged in “armed conflict” with Latin American drug cartels, describing them as terrorist groups as part of its justification for the strikes.

The United Nations has asked the United States to cease its campaign, with rights chief Volker Turk saying the killings have taken place “in circumstances that find no justification in international law.”

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The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday began distributing sensitive and non-sensitive materials to all 21 local government areas ahead of Saturday’s November 8, 2025, governorship election in Anambra State.

The exercise took place at the Central Bank of Nigeria office in Awka, supervised by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Queen Awgu, amid heavy deployment of security personnel.

Party agents were also on ground to observe the process.

Awgu explained that three key materials, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, Forms EC8A, and Forms EC8B, were loaded into vehicles for onward transportation to the Registration Area Centres across the state.

She said the dispatch was meant to ensure that the election commenced on schedule.

“The idea is to ensure that the election starts as scheduled; that is the only way the process can go on without delay,” she said.

“People should come out and vote; participate in this election process. Do not stay at home thinking that your vote will not count, and do not assume that your candidate has already won.”

Awgu added that the commission had made comprehensive preparations in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including political parties, security agencies, and civil society organisations, to ensure that the election would be free, fair, transparent, and credible.

“Party agents and security operatives jointly supervised the distribution of sensitive materials to ensure transparency. We have been at the CBN since 9 am, and everything has gone smoothly without any challenges or complaint.

This shows our readiness and commitment to delivering a credible election,” she said.

Police deploy 55,000 officers

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security in Anambra State, CP Abayomi Shogunle, disclosed that the number of security personnel deployed for the poll had been increased from 45,000 to 55,000 officers.

He said the deployment included personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, DSS, NDLEA, and other sister agencies, with at least three security operatives assigned to each polling unit.

“The increase in security personnel is not to intimidate eligible voters but to ensure effective operations and protection of voters and electoral officials,” Shogunle said.

“We assure the people of Anambra that the election will be free, fair, transparent, and devoid of intimidation.”

He added that the movement of materials from the CBN was being closely monitored to ensure safety.

INEC promises staff welfare

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, assured National Youth Service Corps members being deployed as ad hoc staff of their safety and timely payment of election duty allowances.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement with observers and ad hoc staff in Awka on Wednesday, Amupitan said no one would withhold their entitlements.

“As far as their allowances are concerned, we made an agreement… all those things will be adequately addressed, including allowances for corpers,” he said.

He also stated that security agencies had assured INEC of the protection of poll workers, noting that some were already “raking the ground” while others would “do mopping later.”

Amupitan urged electoral officers to be neutral in the discharge of their duties, stressing that INEC was committed to conducting a peaceful and successful election that could serve as a model for future polls.

“Everything that we need for this Anambra election has been provided,” he said.

Amupitan insisted on a zero-tolerance stance against inducement of voters and urged citizens to provide evidence of vote buying.

“Somebody even offered to give evidence of vote buying… we have requested him to come with such evidence before the commission, which will be handed over to the police,” he said.

“It’s contrary to Section 151 of the Electoral Act… People told us they can even mention names. We’re still waiting for those names so that we take necessary action.”

The warning follows allegations that Governor Soludo’s campaign cash reward scheme could encourage vote buying. The governor, however, said the scheme was meant to reward party workers mobilising support, not voters.

Election monitoring group Yiaga Africa has identified Orumba North, Orumba South, Ogbaru, Ihiala, Nnewi South and Aguata as potential security flashpoints, with some communities reportedly under threat from non-state armed groups.

At a pre-election press conference in Awka, the Chair of the 2025 Anambra Election Mission, Dr Asmau Maikudi, said the areas would require intelligence-driven deployment.

“These LGAs are considered potential hotspots… requiring more deliberate and intelligence-informed deployment,” she said.

She also expressed concerns that voter turnout could fall below 20 per cent due to widespread distrust in the process, noting poor engagement and low registration among young people.

She said civic participation would depend on three benchmarks: efficient logistics, integrity in electoral procedures, and impartiality of security agencies.

INEC said the state has 2,802,790 registered voters, with 98.8 per cent PVC collection.

It also confirmed the deployment of sign-language interpreters to support voters with disabilities.

To prevent delays, INEC said all 5,718 polling units would open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, with 6,879 BVAS devices tested, configured, and backed up for use. Over 24,000 trained ad hoc staff are on standby.

“Neutrality is guaranteed. Impunity will not be tolerated,” Amupitan said.

“Anyone attempting violence, vote-buying, intimidation, or ballot interference will face swift, lawful consequences.”

Sixteen candidates from 16 political parties will contest the poll, with incumbent Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance looking to retain his seat.

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