Nationwide blackout imminent as electricity workers down tools

Nationwide blackout imminent as electricity workers down tools

 

Nigerians may be plunged into darkness in the coming days as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has embarked on an indefinite strike.

 

The union, in a notice signed by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, on Wednesday, said the action followed the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) over unresolved welfare and operational matters.

 

Among the issues listed by the workers are non-implementation of the national minimum wage, casualisation of staff, non-provision of working tools, non-payment of salaries since April, lack of operational vehicles, non-provision of protective equipment since 2021, and unpaid retirement benefits.

 

The union accused the TCN management of “handling the issues with kid gloves” and showing “disregard for the hard-working staff of TCN” without any clear roadmap for solutions.

 

“It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided to handle these issues with levity. We cannot continue to fold our arms while our rights are being violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) goes down the drain. To this end, the Union is compelled to withdraw its services,” the notice read.

 

The NUEE directed all members nationwide to comply fully until management is ready to “discharge its obligations towards the workforce.”

 

Electricity supply had been disrupted last year when NUEE staged a similar action in June 2024.

 

Efforts to get the reaction of TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, were unsuccessful as she was yet to respond to enquiries at press time.