Planned Strike Action By Electricity Workers-Minister Pleads For Two More Weeks To Resolve Grievances

 

The Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba and the management of Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, have been notified of impending strike action by electricity workers in the country via their organised labour, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE). The strike action is scheduled to commence today.

Power Minister, Goddy Jedy Agba 

This followed an appeal by the Minister to leaders of the organized Labour, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), to put off the intended indefinite strike action by the workers and give him two weeks to address their grievances. The aggrieved workers, however, said that they will proceed as planned if their demand is not promptly addressed.

In a response to the Minster’s appeal, NUEE in a letter dated August 16, 2022, told the Minister and the Managing Director\Chief Executive Officer:  

“It is disheartening that an agreement reached with the union as a result of the intervention from your esteemed office almost three years down the line has not been implemented.

”Unfortunately, the issues raised and not addressed have relapsed/metamorphosed as part of the causes of the industrial unrest in the sector.

“On the stigmatization of staff from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation from working in other areas in the power sector, we are not sure you are speaking for the Head of Service after memos addressed to that office several months ago have gone without any acknowledgement.

“On the issues affecting violation/contravention of TCN’s condition of service by the TCN board, the management has only written by proxy for the board.

”Premised on the foregoing, we may be constrained to continue with this action by Wednesday (today) with a total withdrawal of services.

”However, the union is still open to decisive discussions with relevant actors; with a view to proffering solutions to the issues raised and averting the total collapse of the sector.”

The union is protesting the directive by “the TCN Board that all principal managers, in acting capacity going to Assistant General Managers, AGM, must appear for a promotion interview. This directive is in contravention of the Conditions of Service and Career Progression Paths, unilaterally done without relevant stakeholders.”

A letter to NUEE’s General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, dated August 15, 2022, from the Minister reads: 

“The Ministry of Power takes cognizance of your complaints therein and a committed to proffering solutions that will be acceptable to all parties concerned.

“May we appeal to your great union to allow us two weeks from the date of this letter to address the issues and come up with proposals toward an acceptable resolution of all issues."