In a display of opposition, members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) brought business to a halt at the Ministry of Power headquarters in Abuja on a busy Monday. This dramatic event highlighted the tensions between the government and electricity sector workers.
The focal point of this protest was the Ministry’s recent decision to hike electricity tariffs, which has not sat well with the union members. In a bold move, the workers locked out the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and other staff, barring them from entering the Power House building in the upscale Maitama District.
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Igwebike Dominic, the acting General Secretary of NUEE, made it clear that their actions were far from over. “We will continue this shutdown until our voices are heard, and our demands are addressed through meaningful dialogue,” Dominic asserted during an interview with Punch.
The unions have expressed their dismay through a letter to Minister Adelabu, criticizing the lack of consultation with key stakeholders in the power sector. They accused the ministry and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of unilaterally implementing policies that they see as harmful to the workforce and the sector’s efficiency.
Notably, the unions are incensed by a massive tariff hike of about 300%, implemented without prior dialogue with the stakeholders. This hike, coupled with what they perceive as inadequate consideration for a review of workers’ salaries, has sparked widespread discontent.
Further compounding their grievances are the deductions from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)’s revenues, which they argue are unjustified and detrimental to the sector’s stability. “The continuous deduction of a substantial percentage of TCN’s revenue under various pretexts is not only disheartening but also unsustainable,” Dominic highlighted.
In response to the unfolding events, the Minister of Power, through his media aide Bolaji Tunji, has indicated that the ministry is taking the concerns seriously and plans to engage with the unions to resolve the issues.
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As the situation develops, the electricity workers are adamant about not backing down until there is a reversal of the tariff hikes and a stop to the controversial deductions from TCN’s revenue. They also demand that the Gencos and Discos allow unionization in compliance with the Labour Act, ensuring fair treatment for all workers within the sector.
