Nationwide Blackout Looms as PHCN Workers Begin Strike October 2




PHCN office

By Linda Eroke 

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.

Hmmm

Lolzz who cares?

These muffugus did nothing but collect bribes from Nigeria's electricity supply customers, and generously gave them darkness in return.

Why should ANYONE who lives in Nigeria, or has visited Nigeria at any time over the past 30 years, give a flying phuck, two chits or a rats asz about whether Nigeria's now-redundant electricity workers are happy or not. Most who suffered under those buffoons would gladly see them exterminated like the parasitic vermin they are.

As a cost-cutting measure, I would like to suggest that the government send in drunken policemen and soldiers to detain, discipline, and if necessary shoot ALL electricity workers discovered protesting anywhere in Nigeria. Alternatively, the striking utility workers could be rounded up and housed in military barracks where they can serve as live running targets on the rifle-range. This cost-cutting measure would boost troop morale and improve overall combat-readiness.

Strike indeed. Shoot those muffugus, please, and make it snappy.

Very soon Nigeria will go on strike without d GEJ people since that turn they back on every body busy with hw to carry money for 2015 election.
GEJ is a failure total failure

Soon foolish mofos will still come here and say Fresh Air till 2009. The Fresh air that has eluded Nigerians since GEJ came into Power

some foolish people wil blame apc that they'r d ones behind it as they blamed them 4 ASUU,useless fresh air which smell of sulphur [color=#006600][/color]

PHCN has always equalled to darkness. Who cares? *Off to the filling station for my generator fuel

Na shakara, they won't do anything jor.

Last fight!
Interesting!
All Nigerians need is uninterrupted power supply. How it will come about is immaterial, whether a two month strike or even more, it can be endured.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH