- AEDC has laid off 800 employees as part of a rightsizing exercise, down from an initial 1,800 planned, following negotiations with unions.
- The move comes amid rising inflation, living costs, and ongoing electricity supply issues in the region.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has initiated a retrenchment exercise affecting approximately 800 employees, according to sources, as Nigerians contend with rising inflation, high living costs, and erratic power supply.
The layoffs, which began on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, follow months of internal restructuring at the utility firm, which serves the Federal Capital Territory, as well as Kogi, Niger, and Nasarawa States. Company sources said management initially planned to sack 1,800 workers but reduced the number to 800 after negotiations with the National Union of Electricity Employees and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies.
A sample disengagement letter, dated November 5, 2025, and signed by AEDC’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Adeniyi Adejola, confirmed the exercise formed part of an “ongoing rightsizing process.” The letter assured affected employees that they would receive due entitlements after completing an exit clearance process, including deductions for PAYE, outstanding loans, and unretired advances.
The layoffs highlight persistent challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, which continues to struggle with low investment, ageing infrastructure, and poor cost recovery despite years of reforms. AEDC narrowly avoided regulatory suspension last year due to payment defaults and management disputes, and its privately managed operations continue to face pressure from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to improve service delivery and reduce energy losses.
AEDC’s Head of Customer Experience, Kenechukwu Ofili, confirmed the layoffs, describing them as part of a routine process. “The process is ongoing and is being handled in line with the agreed framework,” he said, adding that an official statement would follow.
The reduction could further strain an already overstretched workforce and heighten customer dissatisfaction in Abuja and surrounding states, where residents frequently report poor electricity supply and arbitrary billing.