Firms’ handover: Electricity Workers Threaten To Shut Plants

The Federal Government plan for a smooth transition in the power sector may be farfetched as workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have threatened to withdraw their services from Wednesday.

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The shutdown threat comes into effect if President Goodluck Jonathan carries on with the scheduled handover of the privatised power firms to its new management, Monday.

The National Union of Electricity Employees, in a statement on Sunday, protested the planned handover, saying several labour issues had not been settled.

The union said if the government continued with its action, the PHCN workers would not be able to guarantee electricity supply after Wednesday, October 2, 2013.

The union said in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr. Joe Ajaero, “Because of the Independence Day ceremonies, we will be patient to allow for full celebrations. However, we hereby urge Nigerians to bear with us if after October 2, 2013 the government goes ahead with her illicit handover to the investors in a forceful takeover; the implication will be that the workers would have technically been asked to withdraw their services and we may not be able to guarantee smooth operations.

“Consequently, if after October 2, 2013, the office of the Vice-President fails to correct this misleading information, we shall not guarantee supply of electricity in the country. This is not a threat as our earlier ultimatum has expired.”

The union listed issues that were not resolved to include the non-conclusion of payment of terminal benefits to the workers; non-payment of retirement savings to the workers’ Pension Fund Administrators; and non-remittance of two per cent of the union deductions as agreed.

Others are non-payment of retirees who disengaged from the PHCN since 2011, non-regularisation of the casual workers already identified, failure to give the workers 10 per cent equity shareholding and shortfall of terminal benefits from June 2012 till date.