Nationwide Blackout Looms As PHCN Workers Begin Strike On October 2nd

The already deplorable power
situation in the country may worsen
as employees of Power Holding
Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have
threatened to stop the supply of
electricity across the country by
October 2 if the federal government
goes ahead to handover the assets
of the company to private investors
today without the conclusion of
payment of workers entitlements.
The industrial action follows the
expiration of the ultimatum issued
by the workers to government to
resolve all labour issues ahead of
the privatisation of PHCN.
In preparation for the industrial
action, the workers will today hold a
nationwide protest to alert Nigerians
of impending shutdown of the
power sector on Wednesday.
Speaking under the umbrella of
National Union of Electricity
Employees (NUEE), the union
directed its members to withdraw
their services from all PHCN
installations immediately after the
celebration of the nation’s 53
Independence anniversary.
The union, in a statement issued by
its secretary, Joe Ajaero, said the
industrial action became necessary
in view of government refusal to
resolve the outstanding labour
issues with the workers.
The union said it was particularly
disturbed by the statement credited
to the Chairman of National Council
on Privatisation (NCP), Vice-
President Namadi Sambo that
government had settled all the
labour issues which had impeded
the smooth take off of the
privatisation programme and the
handover to private investors.
The union insisted that the vice-
president was either being misled or
deliberately keen on emasculating
the PHCN workers with a view to
further impoverishing them.
It challenged the Office of the Vice-
President “to mention any person
from his constituency - Kaduna State
where he served as governor, who
has been paid his entitlement,
pension and gratuity.”
The union further alleged
governments deployment of military
personnel to all PHCN facilities
stating that the aim was to
ostensibly to allow a forceful
takeover of the installations without
conclusively settling the labour
issues.
It noted that the policy of deploying
soldiers to PHCN installations to
intimidate workers was “definitely
misguided and misdirected as they
are directed to creating more
tension to already tensed polity.”
The statement read: “For clarity,
please note that these issues are
outstanding: payments of terminal
benefits: payment of the terminal
benefits is yet to rise up to 50 per
cent for the eligible workers. Non-
payment of retirement savings fund
to Pension Fund Administrators
(PFAs): Up till this moment no
efforts has been made to commence
payment. The PFAs can attest to this
fact. Non-remittance of 2 per cent of
the union deductions as agreed: No
word has been heard from the BPE/
government on remittance of this
two person neither has the
deductions already made from the
paid workers remitted to the
unions.”
“Non-payment of retirees who
disengaged since 2011: It is absurd
and sordid for government not to
think of settling these people who
laboured over the years in service of
this country and get retired
meritoriously, while the privatisation
exercise was on. Non-regularisation
of some of the casuals already
identified: With the biometrics done
and concluded, it becomes
worrisome on the continued delay in
regularising the casuals who had
been identified based on
agreements already entered into. 10
per cent equity shareholding by the
workers: In line with the relevant
laws, the workers are entitled to 10
per cent Equity Share of the total
sale of PHCN. But it appears the
government is bent on short
changing the workers.”
“The shortfall of terminal benefits
from June 2012 till date has not
been considered for payment.
“These contending issues cannot be
jettisoned by the workers to allow
any force to takeover! It behooves
us therefore to advise the vice-
president and those misguiding him
not to toy with the socio-economic
lives of PHCN workers, their families
and other Nigerians who depend on
them for their livelihood. We are set
to take our destiny in our hands.
“Because of Independence Day
ceremonies, we would be patient to
allow for full celebrations.
“However, we hereby urge Nigerians
to bear with us if after October 2,
the government goes ahead with her
illicit handover to the investors and
forceful takeover; the implication
would be that the workers have
technically been asked to withdraw
their services and we may not be
able to guarantee smooth
operations.
Consequently, if after October 2, 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.”
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/
nationwide-blackout-looms-as-phcn-
workers-begin-strike-october-2/160275/

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