Tina Amanda
Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company PHED says it has commenced the recruitment exercise for people living with disabilities, in line with the policy for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Managing Director PHED, Dr Benson Uwheru, disclosed this during a pre-May Day Seminar and award night for Electricity workers organised by the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) PHED branch in Port Harcourt.
Dr Uwheru, who the Chief Peoples Officer PHED represented, Micah Ledee, said the employment of the disabled in the organisation is targeted to close the gap in the policy of diversity, equity and inclusion and give equal opportunities for the physically challenged to thrive in the society.
He also emphasised that PHED is wearing a new face to rewrite the bad image of the company created over the years by previous administrations, noting that the company has commenced the promotion of staff and paid off about forty-six million nairas inherited for staff exit entitlement.
“We are putting up other policies, including employing employees with disabilities in the organisation to be able to support the policy for diversity, equity and inclusion
“The policy for employing staff with disabilities has been approved without race, colour or religion. We have commenced recruiting, and we will close the gap.
“PHED has been in the wrong light, but presently we are rewriting history with the face of new business; we are gradually redeeming that image by paying exited staff who left the organisation over a period whose appointments were terminated through a kangaroo process and their entitlement not paid.
“We have been able to pay forty-six million naira for exited staff since 2019- 2022, and we are still doing more to close that gap. We are commencing pension arrears payment by next month, and the value of the pension not paid is huge.
“The company at the moment is in consultation with the federal government, expecting to clear off the backlog we inherited, and we are hoping that in the near months to come, everybody in the organisation will receive the value of their pension.
“We have considered staff for promotions and increased salaries across the board which is not based on performance. We have also commenced training and retraining of staff by improving our training salaries”.
In his paper presentation Titled: “The Prospect and Challenges of Labour Movement in the Electricity Industry (PHED) in Perspective”,
Dr Obodoegbulam Agi, Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, said there is a relative gap between the company and staff in the electricity sector.
According to him, most challenges workers in the electricity industry face is being employed without job security as most staff are casualised, which makes it impossible for such workers to give in their best as they are afraid of being sent home someday.
“The management gives the staff conditions; when the service condition is auspicious, the staff goes to work with high hope. In most cases, the workers are confronted with so many challenges, and the gap between policy formation leaves them in doubt.
“Workers are left at the mercy of the employer, and the general public. Management should realise that their goals can not be achieved without an efficient workforce”.
Also, the Deputy General Secretary Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies SSAEAC, Comrade Innocent Lord-Douglas, said the union decided to honour its members, the management PHED and others who have given their unwavering support to the union in the struggle for the betterment of electricity workers in the state and region.
However, he assured that the labour Union would continue building a robust relationship with electricity workers and the management.
Highlights of the events, as reported by our Correspondent, are award presentations, entertainment, and lecture seminar.
