What it does: Provides electricity distribution services in the northern regions of Nigeria.
Best known for: Being the only privately-owned electrical company in Northeastern Nigeria.
Staff stats: Up to 1,000 employees from its headquarters in Adamawa State to its offices in Borno, Yobe, and Taraba.
The good bits: The company sees to it that every employee is given an opportunity to secure their jobs in the company. Managerial-level employees enjoy discounted electricity bills.
The not so good bits: Management is criticised for withholding annual bonuses and laying off employees regularly.
Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) started its operations years before Nigeria gained its independence from the colonial government. It was first established in 1950 under the name Electricity Corporation of Nigeria. In its first few years, it built isolated power stations in various locations in northeast Nigeria.
In 1972, the demand for electricity increased throughout the country. To meet this demand, the government helped liberalise the power sector to get funding from the private sector and manufacture more electricity equipment that would enable companies to supply electricity to more Nigerian towns.
Today, the YEDC is responsible for the electricity supply of various towns in Nigeria like Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, and Yobe. YEDC was formally privatised in November 2013.
At YEDC, safety is at the forefront of the company's corporate culture. Employees are exposed to potentially harmful equipment, so it's important for every employee to observe safety procedures and look after their safety.
Currently, the company is going through controversies and issues with regards to its treatment of its employees. There are practices in the company that are displeasing to the workforce, and the employees are honest when it comes to expressing their concerns with the company.
YEDC's recent business-related insecurities and scrutiny from its workforce have made office relations challenging. On the upside, the company fosters a safe environment where employees are given the freedom to work in their respective departments. Today, however, the company is putting most of its recent efforts into fixing problems within and outside the company given its well-documented crises in recent months.
Applicants who wish to work for YEDC can submit their CVs and application letters to the company's email or through online job boards. Shortlisted candidates will receive a phone call from the YEDC HR department to schedule a face-to-face interview. The company will thoroughly go through the qualifications of every applicant, so they are encouraged to prepare every license and certification before their scheduled personal interview. During the interview, the hiring officer will discuss the nature of the job as well as the professional history of the applicant. At the end of the interview, when the applicant and the company officer agree on the salary package and job description, the applicant will be given a job offer. The entire recruitment process can be one to six weeks long.
A job at YEDC is a good opportunity for young professionals to either build their careers within the company or start a career path in the energy industry of Africa. As a company, YEDC is known as the company that recognises their best talent, and it generously gives out promotions to the best performers. Management at YEDC care about their employees' career development, but it is often criticised for delivering subpar quality of service towards its workforce – laying off employees and withholding bonuses. YEDC has employees who have been working for them for years, thanks to the company’s discounts on electricity bills. As far as career growth is concerned, specialised professionals like newly-licensed electrical engineers treat their jobs at YEDC as a great stepping stone towards better career options in the future.
The industry standard pay for trainees, interns, and entry-level employees in electrical companies in Nigeria is NGN 150,000 per month. As employees gain specialisation in their jobs, the salary goes up a certain percentage to at least NGN 211,000 per month.