Nationwide blackout looms as electricity workers begin strike

Nationwide blackout looms as electricity workers begin strike

- Electricity workers have begun a nationwide strike over failure of the government to implement their demands

- The NUEE had given a 21-day ultimatum to the minister of power, Saleh Mamman, to meet their demands

- Anthony Sule, the union’s assistant secretary-general, said the union had no option but to go on indefinite strike

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) is set to embark on an indefinite strike on Wednesday, December 12, following the expiration of the 21 days ultimatum issued to the minister of power, Saleh Mamman, to implement their demands.

This Day reports that the minister failed to dialogue with the union before the ultimatum which lapsed on the midnight of Tuesday, December 10.

Legit.ng gathered that a nationwide blackout is imminent as electricity workers begin an indefinite strike.

A statement issued by the union’s assistant secretary-general, Anthony Sule, indicated that the union had no option but to commence an indefinite strike since the minister couldn’t dialogue with it before the expiration of the ultimatum.

Read also

Minimum wage: NLC issues fresh strike warning over non-implementation

Nationwide blackout looms as electricity workers commence strike
Power grid
Source: Depositphotos

He said: “The ministry of power has failed to resolve some issues affecting members of the union since 2013 when the power sector was privatised especially issues with the over 2,000 disengaged former PHCN workers and their pay off.”

According to him, some of the unresolved issues are the illegal transfer of union properties to power investors and the alleged refusal by some distribution companies (DisCos) to remit deducted contributory pension of their members of staff to pension managers.

He added that the issues were contained in a memo to the minister dated November 7, 2019.

It was gathered that other demands of the union include, unpaid benefits to over 2000 disengaged staff of the defunct Power Holding Company (PHCN), since 2013; underpayment of over 50,000 ex-PHCN staff; payment of half salaries to workers by DisCos, and unfair labour practices over unresolved labour issues including alleged refusal by some DisCos to remit deducted contributory pension fund to workers’ Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

Read also

SERAP gives 36 state governors 7 days to disclose payments of jumbo pensions to ex-governors

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Nigeria's Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, described the 2013 power sector privatisation as fraudulent.

It was reported that he disclosed this while declaring open a round-table discussion organised by the Senate committee on power.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better

Fashola EXCLUSIVE Interview: How Nigeria Can Have Uninterrupted Power Supply | - on Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng

Online view pixel