INDUSTRIAL ACTION: The nation was saved a prolonged nationwide blackout following the industrial action embarked on Wednesday by the Nigerian electricity workers following their threat to do so after a protest on Tuesday in Abuja.
Basic Facts
- Nigerian electricity workers made good their threat to down tools on Wednesday following protracted failure of the federal government to honour their demands.
- The workers embarked on a nationwide strike after a protest in Abuja a day before and announced the commencement of the strike if the federal government fails to intervene.
- The strike action was however suspended swiftly after the Minister of Labour and Productivity intervened to pally with the striking workers.
What We Know
The strike action by the workers ended abruptly same day after a four hour pally with the Minister of Labour and employment, Senator Chris Ngige on Wednesday in Abuja.
The meeting, which was productive resulted in the immediate suspension of the strike for another two weeks to allow for a review of the issues and possible intervention of the federal government for their resolution, Clariform has learnt.
The Minister was swift in intervening into the matter as the workers made good their threat to down tool and had a fruitful discussion with the workers.
Ngige`s intervention led to the calling of an emergency meeting held between him and the leadership of the striking electricity workers, in other to discuss the issues that occasioned the strike action.
Comrade Joe Ajero, the President of NUEE, who addressed newsmen after the meeting expressed hope that the federal government would act differently this time in resolving the lingering issues that precipitated the strike.
In the same vein, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige also sounded confident of the willingness of government to ensure that matters do not escalate further.
The Minister further disclosed that a tripartite committee has been set up by the parties to look into the matter.
He named the committee members to include the Minister of State for Power, Jeddy Agba (Chairman), Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, representative of BPE and two representatives from NUEE and SSAEC.
Catch-up
The strike action was embarked by the electricity workers under the joint umbrella of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEC).
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) gathered to protest outside the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday as they prepared for industrial action to drive home their demand.
The group announced that its members will stop working on Wednesday, as they contend that the government, is not doing enough to address personnel welfare concerns of the workers.
The strike if allowed to take proceed would have undoubtedly added salt to injury as it would have made Nigeria’s power supply, which had never been anything to celebrate, to worsen.
The NUEE advised its members to abide by the directive and halt working as of August 17 in a notice that was signed by the General Secretary of the union, Joe Ajaero.
Clariform recalls that on the 18th of May, the union gave the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN a 14-day deadline and threatened to down tools if its objections were not addressed.
The notice issued by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to its members ahead of the protest partly read:
“You are hereby enjoined to mobilise immediately for serious picketing of TCN Headquarters and Stations nationwide over the directive by the TCN Board that all PMs in acting capacity going to AGM must appear for a promotion interview”
“This directive is in contravention of our Conditions of Service and Career Progression Paths and was unilaterally done without the relevant Stakeholders.”
The group also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s refusal to properly pay off the former employees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in December 2019.
