Declaration Of A State Of Emergency In The Power Sector Is Unconstitutional!

The National Union of Electricity Employees, said that the the proposed declaration of a state of emergency in the power sector by President Yar’Adua is unconstitutional and have threatened to resist the proposed declaration.

Presiden Yar’Adua had announced that his administration would formally declare a state of emergency in the power sector in July.

"If President Umaru Yar'Adua announces any form of state of emergency in the power sector, we will not be available for work from that moment,'' the union said. And workers would stay at home to resist ``any form of anti-people policy by the Federal Government``. ``We are worried because the form and details of the emergency had remained shrouded to them,''

“All efforts made by our union to have audience with the President or his minister of state on the sector to enable us make input on the state of the power sector has been met with deaf ears.

“The unconstitutionality of the said state of emergency notwithstanding, the workers in Power Holding Company of Nigeria have been working under harsh conditions, reminiscent of a state of emergency, hence we are at a loss to understand what Mr. President is out to achieve in the power sector.”

The NUEE president said it is regrettable that people who could “not differentiate between a radio transistor and electric transformer,” were the ones that take policy decisions on issues affecting the power sector.

“Where are the 21 companies, including the ones owned by the former President(Olusegun Obasanjo) and Aliko Dangote(a business mogul) that was licensed to generate, transmit and distribute power?

“What happened to them? They want to use public funds to create an unconstitutional emergency in the sector, benefit from it and then sell it out to their friends and cronies under the guise of privitasation.”

"Even if the President spent all the money in the world on the power sector, without the training and improvement of the welfare package of electricity workers, all the efforts would be wasted.

“We are yet to see the result of the promotion interview held since Feburary 2008, and worst still, management has been adamant about the 21-day ultimatum given to it by the union for the release of the promotion letters,”

The Vice-President of the Union also said that the Federal Government should let Nigerians know the truth about who and what was responsible for the continued power outages in Nigeria.

He said, “Our employees are the most vilified and abused in the annals of public service in Nigeria. You cannot blame Nigerians because most of them do not know the truth about power generation, transmission and distribution in this country.

“Too many selfish and private interests are always at stake at the expense of Nigeria and Nigerians. What the employees of the sector intend to do now is to let Nigerians know that the continued darkness is not caused by the workers.


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