Nigerian electricity workers threaten to resume strike, if government fails to implement MoU

*The National Union of Electricity Employees urges the Federal Government to ensure that the agreement signed with the union is honoured and implemented within the stipulated period of two weeks

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Nigerian electricity workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have urged Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government to  implementation of the agreement signed with the workers’ union.

It is recalled the agreement between the parties had led to the recent suspension of the nationwide strike by the   electricity workers.

ConsumerConnect reports Modupeoluwa Akinola, Assistant General Secretary, Western Zone of NUEE, made the call when he led other Zonal Executive members to address a press conference Monday, September 5, 2022, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Akinola recalled that the industrial action was suspended for two weeks in agreement with the Federal Government to attend to their demands.

According to him, a week in the two weeks has gone already.

“This, to us, is the only way to forestall a situation whereby our union will be forced to reactivate the suspended strike,” said he.

The NUEE Assistant General Secretary further  explained that “the recent strike organised by our union in defence of our members in TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) is just a glimpse of how determined and resolute our union shall continue to be in the coming period in defence of the socio-economic rights and interests of our members and the general public.

Akinola stated: “Again, we will like to use this medium to openly reiterate our appreciation to members of our union and the general public for the kind overwhelming support and sympathy often rendered to the struggle and agitations of our union, particularly the recently suspended strike we embarked upon on behalf of our members in TCN.

“Our union regrets and holds the government responsible for all forms of inconveniences and pains experienced by members of the general public during the period our last strike lasted.”

He as well said: “We hereby call the Federal Government to ensure that the agreement signed with the union which is the basis for the suspension of the strike in the first instance is honoured and implemented within the stipulated period of two weeks.”

‘DisCos have failed Nigerians’ –NUEE

The NUEE also accused electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) of using dubious antics to rob Nigerians.

The workers’ union also alleged that the DisCos had failed to upgrade and expand their capacities and networks, right from the time the power sector was privatised in 2013.

The Distribution Companies have been using dubious antics such as over-billing to rob the citizens, said the NUEE.

Akinola added that communities would have to procure distribution facilities, such as transformers, cables as well as poles.

They queried why the DisCos would appropriate the ownership of such distribution facilities bought by the communities to itself.

“The distribution Companies, known as (DisCos), are not fairing better.

“They have failed to upgrade and expand their capacities and networks while using dubious antics like over-billing to rob the people; forcing communities to procure distribution facilities like transformers, cables, poles and so on, which are not only grossly inadequate but also decrepit conditions and dubiously claimed the ownership,” he said.

Akinola added: “We consider this to be quite unfortunate and unthinkable, given the over N2trillion of bailout fund that the federal government has given to both the DISCOs and GENCOs on different occasions since the privatisation.

“There has been practically nothing to show in terms of improvement in the electricity supply and better performance for the $ 20 billion, the federal government claimed to have invested in the power sector since 2005.”

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