BREAKING: Blackout looms as electricity workers threaten to shut down national grid again
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to shut down the national grid if the Federal Government doesn’t comply with its demands shortly again, meaning Nigerians will likely soon endure another blackout.
Remember that the employees’ twenty-four-hour strike was suspended for two weeks on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, following a meeting with Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment.
The union is protesting the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) board’s order to conduct interviews for promotion for acting principal managers who are transitioning to Assistant General Managers, as well as the nonpayment of outstanding arrears owed to former employees of the now-defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
The displeased employees claimed that the two weeks allotted to address the situation have passed.
While negotiations are still ongoing, the shutting down of the national grid is still on hold, according to NUEE’s zonal organising secretary for the North West region, Comrade Dukat Ayuba.
Ayuba bemoaned the supposed privatisation of the sector was a sham because nothing has changed nine years after investors took control.
He claimed: “That’s why we fought against investors taking over the distribution business because they lack the capacity and knowledge. We warned the government against it as devoted Nigerians. However, the administration was adamant about doing it.
The so-called privatisation of the sector was a hoax, they claimed, because nothing changed nine years after investors took control.
“That was why, we kicked against privitazing the distribution sector because, the investors don’t have the capacity and expertise. As committed Nigerians we advised government against it. But the government was hell bent of doing so”.
” The investors are still operating with obsolete equipment dating back to 35, 40, and 50 years. One will expect that with the coming of the investors they will replace this obsolete equipment but nothing has been done.”
The union said the nation still generates 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
“This is the same 5,000 megawatts we used to generate. So what is the benefit of privitazation?“
“We now generate megawatts with higher tariffs. Bringing hardships to the homes of millions of Nigerians. This will only happen in Nigeria.”
A member of Central Executive Committe, Wisdom Nwachukwu noted that the federal government now wants to sale Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“They are going behind meeting with some stakeholders. We are watching them. We will not allow that. We are patriotic Nigerians who want the best for our country.”
The Vice President, North West, NUEE Ado Gaya revealed that the 16 months demanded by the electricity workers is their legitimate earnings which involves 55,000 workers.
He said nine years after, the workers have not receive a dime, while many of the workers have died, those who were laid off are suffering with their families.
