In a dramatic turn of events, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) halted operations at the Ministry of Power headquarters in Abuja on Monday. The unions locked out the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and other ministry staff, barring them from accessing the Power House building in the Maitama District.
Unions Demand Immediate Action
Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Igwebike Dominic, stated that the shutdown would persist until the government addresses their demands. “The shutdown of Power House is going to continue until they hold a meeting with the unions or meet the demands written in our letter to the minister,” Dominic told Punch.
Reasons Behind the Shutdown
In a joint letter to Minister Adelabu dated May 20, 2024, the unions expressed their discontent with the government’s unilateral decision to liquidate the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) without consulting stakeholders. The letter criticized the Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for neglecting the welfare of workers and making decisions detrimental to the power sector.
The unions accused the minister of treating the power sector like a personal estate and failing to consider the interests of critical stakeholders. They highlighted several grievances, including:
- A unilateral tariff increase of about 300% without stakeholder dialogue.
- Proposed salary reviews for workers that lacked proper consideration.
- Provocative moves to cede infrastructure for political patronage.
- Misleading deductions from TCN’s revenue for technical losses and other expenses.
Allegations Against NERC
The unions also accused NERC of ordering unrealistic monthly deductions from TCN’s account, portraying the management as incompetent, and conspiring to undermine TCN’s operations. They demanded that all such deductions stop immediately and that previously deducted funds be returned to TCN.
Call for Tariff Hike Reversal
The unions insisted that NERC reverse the unilateral tariff increase and called for a review of workers’ salaries. They demanded that all deductions from TCN cease and that staff in the sector receive electricity rebates as a standard practice.
Power Minister’s Response
Minister Adebayo Adelabu, through his media aide Bolaji Tunji, stated that the ministry was addressing the issue and that the permanent secretary would meet with the unions to discuss their concerns.
The Ongoing Situation
As of now, the shutdown continues, with the unions maintaining their stance until their demands are met. The Ministry of Power’s ability to resolve this conflict will be crucial in determining when normal operations can resume.
This incident underscores the growing tensions within Nigeria’s power sector and highlights the urgent need for dialogue and reforms to ensure sustainable and fair practices for all stakeholders involved.