If nothing urgent is done in the next few hours, Nigeria will be thrown into darkness from Wednesday, a situation that would worsen the country’s many troubles.
This is as organised labour has directed workers in the power sector to down tools and commence an indefinite strike over pending labour issues with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The National Union of Electricity Employees on Tuesday picketed the headquarters of the Transmission Company of Nigeria in Abuja.
The issue
The union claimed the Federal Government has failed to pay the entitlement of former staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in December 2019.
The aggrieved workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), explained that this is a prelude to an indefinite strike action expected to commence on August 17.
In a circular entitled “Call to Action”, NUEE General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, directed them to ensure total compliance, vowing to paralyse operations of TCN nationwide over anti-masses activities.
Implication
What this means is that the crisis rocking the nation’s electricity supply could be more terrible begining from Wednesday.
The circular to the imminent strike action reads, “You are hereby enjoined to mobilise immediately for a 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 unilaterally done without the relevant stakeholders.
“This action takes effect from Tuesday 16th August 2022 and total withdrawal of services commences on Wednesday 17th August 2022. Ensure full compliance in all the stations nationwide.”
Meanwhile, recall that the union had also on May 18, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, MD/CEO.
In the circular titled “Unresolved issues on the year 2021 promotion exercise and others,” the union threatened to down tools at the expiration of the ultimatum if its grievances were not addressed.