Employees of Power Holding Company of
Nigeria (PHCN) Wednesday alerted the
federal government of a looming industrial
crisis in the power sector should it go ahead
to secretly handover the assets of Power
Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to
private investors without the conclusion of
payment of workers entitlements.
Speaking under the umbrella of the National
Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), the
union threatened to shut down the industry
should the investors go ahead to take over
on paper without allowing the Bureau of
Public Enterprises (BPE) and government to
conclusively sort out the outstanding labour
issues with the workers.
This, it stated, would be assumed that
investors have equally accepted to pay the
outstanding liabilities to the workers.
A statement issued by the union’s Secretary,
Joe Ajaero, pointed out that members had
shown enough patriotism and high level of
understanding in the discourse and warned
that it could no longer guarantee the safety
of any investor, who may wish to dare the
union.
The statement read: “It has come to our
notice that the federal government through
the BPE has resolved to throw the power
sector into turmoil by secretly handing over
the sector on paper. We are also aware that
all the Chief Executive Officers of the
supposed unbundled companies of PHCN
have been called to Abuja and directed to
bring their letter-headed papers with a view
to signing off on paper in favour of the
investors. However, we wish to advise the
investors not to fall into the trap set up by
the BPE and government who were not able
to conclusively clear the outstanding huddles
in relation to outstanding labour issues with
the workers.
“Should the investors go ahead to take over
on paper without allowing the BPE and
government to conclusively sort out the
outstanding labour issues with the workers, it
would be assumed that they (investors) have
equally accepted to pay outstanding labour
liabilities. Therefore, they must be prepared
to pay at the gate of entry, every dime due
the workers before they are allowed in. 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 two per cent of
the union deductions as agreed: No word has
been heard from the BPE/government on
remittance of this two per cent 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. Based on the foregoing, we
reiterate our advice to the investors to ensure
that they do not fall into the trap of the BPE/
government by taking over on paper. This is
so because we will not wish to allow our
labour over the years to go in vain.
“Please, steer clear PHCN facilities until all
labour issues are resolved. We equally
appeal to good people of Nigeria to show
understanding and bear with us, should we
decide to dance to this music being played
by BPE.” http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/phcn-workers-threaten-to-shut-down-power-sector/159363/

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