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Tag: NUEE

  • Workers shut down IBEDC offices in Kwara, Ogun

    Workers shut down IBEDC offices in Kwara, Ogun

    Staff of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Oyo State and Kwara on Thursday shut down the company’s main offices in Ibadan and Ilorin respectively.

    Groups representing the workers assembled early at the office and locked the gates with padlock. They went on to prevent visitors, presumably customers, from entering the premises and disrupting the day’s work and other services.

    The development occurred around the same time their Ogun colleagues in Abeokuta were performing a similar action. A visit to the company’s office at Ring Road in Ibadan indicated a similar action to the one at the Ilorin office in the city’s Challenge area.

    Few members of staff who spoke with NAN on condition of anonymity in Ilorin said the strike action was about poor condition of service in the company.

    They carried placards with inscriptions such as “reverse your illegal disengagement of our members now”, “no more half salary”, and “we say ‘no’ to your executive orders”.

    Others are “pay our (Pension Fund Administrator) PFA, union and Cooperative deductions now”, “implement the new minimum wage”, et cetera.

    “The company is sacking us arbitrarily, they don’t remit our cooperative deductions, there is no accountability around our pension.

    “We are just working without promotion, our welfare is zero, the company hit new peak in December and there was no reward to staff who are working under uncomfortable conditions.

    “We have also seen a situation of payment of half salary, though indirectly, while casualisation of staff is also being promoted as if it is lawful,” representatives of the workers, who preferred anonymity, said.

    They also complained of lack of funding and no implementation of the new minimum wage among many other issues.

    Some areas visited in Ilorin as at the time of filing this report have since been without power supply. These include Fate Road, GRA, Taiwo Road, Opomalu, among others.

    Effort to speak with any of the IBEDC officials in Ilorin and Ibadan proved abortive as their phone numbers were either not connecting or ringing without the calls being picked.

    Busolami Tunwase, the Spokesperson for IBEDC in Ibadan, has also remained out of reach.

    Meanwhile, a public announcement by the company’s management late Thursday has confirmed the disruption of services as a result of a picketing by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE).

  • Kaduna DisCo condemns strike by electricity workers

    Kaduna DisCo condemns strike by electricity workers

    The management of Kaduna Electric has dismissed the industrial action embarked by he electricity workers as unjustifiable.

    The workers under the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), on Tuesday, embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged poor treatment by the management of the company.

    The action exposed electricity consumers in its franchise: Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi into total blackout.

    Reacting, Abdulazeez Abdulahi, Head of Corporate Communications of the company, dismissed the action as “unjustified”.

    In a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna, Abdullahi blamed the union for sabotaging power supply by embarking on strike at the start of the Holy month of Ramadan.

    The action, he said, exposed Nigerians to discomfort due to power outage occasioned by the strike.

    “Forcing staff from carrying out their legitimate duties says a lot about its motive.

    “For emphasis, the union’s demand for payment of outstanding pension arrears which is the supposed justification for forcing misery on citizens is part of the historic debts accumulated under two previous managements.

    “One wonders why the union failed to prioritise the payments then until now. This is a clear indication that the union has other motives yet unknown to us,” he said.

    He said the Chief Executive Officer, Umar Hashidu had demonstrated willingness to work with the unions to move the company forward since assumption of office in January.

    “The CEO held series of meetings with NUEE to get their buy-in into his plans to turn the company around.

    “The management is committed to the employee welfare,” he said, adding that it had been consistently engaged in open dialogue to address concerns.

    Abdullahi said the administrator had increased salaries within one month after assuming duty, and committed towards ensuring prompt payment of salaries and liabilities.

    “The strike action does no good to anyone but some individuals whose motive is still unclear.

    “We urge our esteemed customers to disregard it and go about their dealings with us unhindered”.

  • BREAKING: Nigeria thrown into total darkness as electricity workers join NLC strike

    BREAKING: Nigeria thrown into total darkness as electricity workers join NLC strike

    Electricity workers in Nigeria under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have joined the ongoing strike of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    Recall the NLC and TUC had declared a total and indefinite nationwide strike, starting from 14th November 2023 if the government refused to address the issues involved in the assault on NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero.

    The NUEE in a notice signed by Dominic Igwebike, Acting General Secretary of the Union, requested all national, State and Chapter executives to mobilize members to comply with the strike by NLC and TUC.

    “With reference to NLC NEC meeting of today; 13th November 2023 and the joint communique from NLC and TUC dated 7 November 2023 on nationwide withdrawal service on 14th November 2023 if the government refused to address the issues raised from the shortfall of the atrocious event in Imo State on the 1st of November 2023, we affirm that the nationwide strike will commence as stipulated on Tuesday 14th November 2023.

    “To this effect, all National, State and Chapter executives are requested to start the mobilization of our members in total compliance with this directive.

    “Please note that withdrawal of Services nationwide commences from 00:00 hours of Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Please ensure total compliance,” the notice reads.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the development has thrown the nation into total electricity blackout.

  • FLASH: Electricity workers restore power supply nationwide

    FLASH: Electricity workers restore power supply nationwide

    Electricity workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have restored power supply nationwide after they shut down the national grid and went on strike on Wednesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the electricity workers, in protest, shut down the national grid, throwing the nation into the darkness to press home their demands.

    The electricity workers embarked on the strike in protest against the directive by the board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) that all Principal Managers in acting capacity going to Acting General Manager must appear for a promotion interview.

    The General Secretary of NUEE, Mr Joe Ajaero, had in a statement explained that the directive was in contravention of the workers’ conditions of service and career progression paths, and alleged that it was unilaterally done without the relevant stakeholders.

    Other issues raised include stigmatisation of staff from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation from working in other areas in the power sector, and non-payment of December 2019 entitlement of ex-PHCN staff.

    Following intervention by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the electricity workers’ union agreed to call off the industrial strike action for two weeks and restore power supply across the country.

    The blackout which started at about 11:00 am on Wednesday lasted overnight till about 7:30 am on Thursday morning when the national grid came back on stream and power supply was restored.

  • We are set to restore the national grid – TCN’s GM, Public Affairs

    We are set to restore the national grid – TCN’s GM, Public Affairs

    After electricity workers in the country threw the nation into darkness on Wednesday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has expressed readiness to restore the national grid.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the electricity workers under National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) embarked on the strike, but was quickly called off after intervention by the federal government.

    ALSO READ || BREAKING: Electricity workers suspend strike

    The General Manager, Public Affairs of TCN, Mrs Ndidi Mbah confirmed the shut down of the national grid in Abuja and said the company was set to restore the grid as quickly as possible.

    Mrs Mbah disclosed that several 330kV transmission lines and 33 Kilo Volt (kV) feeder-lines across the power system network were switched off by the electricity workers.

    ”This resulted in generation-load imbalance and multiple voltage escalations at critical stations and substations,” Mbah stated.

    She said that this was coming weeks after the company had come out of  hectic grid management regime, occasioned by paucity of generation that lingered for a couple of months.

    ”Coupled with the stream of interventions by the Ministry of Power and other stakeholders in the value chain, grid generation (at peak) had reached 4,830.69 Megawatts (MW) as at Tuesday,” she said.

    The spokesperson confirmed that the Ministries of Power and Labour & Employment held a meeting with the electricity workers in order to resolve the issues.

    Mbah said that enduring mechanisms are being instituted to avert a situation of this kind going forward.

    Earlier, the General Secretary of NUEE, Mr Joe Ajaero, had in a statement said the strike was in protest against the directive by the TCN board that all Principal Managers in acting capacity going to Acting General Manager must appear for a promotion interview.

    Ajaero said the directive was in contravention of the workers’ conditions of service and career progression paths, and alleged that it was unilaterally done without the relevant stakeholders.

    Other issues raised include stigmatisation of staff from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation from working in other areas in the power sector, and non-payment of December 2019 entitlement of ex-PHCN staff.

  • BREAKING: Electricity workers suspend strike

    BREAKING: Electricity workers suspend strike

    Electricity workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have suspended their industrial strike action.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the electricity workers under NUEE embarked on the strike on Wednesday, shutting down the national grid to press home their demands.

    The federal government immediately summoned an emergency meeting with the electricity workers after they shut down the national grid, throwing the nation into darkness.

    It was gathered that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige succeeded in reaching a truce with the electricity workers for them to suspend the strike.

    TNG reports that the electricity workers embarked on the strike in protest against the directive by the board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) that all Principal Managers in acting capacity going to Acting General Manager must appear for a promotion interview.

    The General Secretary of NUEE, Mr Joe Ajaero, had in a statement explained that the directive was in contravention of the workers’ conditions of service and career progression paths, and alleged that it was unilaterally done without the relevant stakeholders.

    Other issues raised include stigmatisation of staff from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation from working in other areas in the power sector, and non-payment of December 2019 entitlement of ex-PHCN staff.

    Following deliberations at the meeting that lasted for three hours with the Minister of Labour and Employment, the electricity workers union agreed to suspend the strike for two weeks.

    ALSO READ || We are set to restore the national grid – TCN’s GM, Public Affairs

    The workers expressed optimism that the government will listen to the voice of reasoning and prioritise their welfare and wellbeing.

  • Strike: Blackout in Lagos as South-East is thrown into darkness

    Strike: Blackout in Lagos as South-East is thrown into darkness

    Lagos State has been thrown into darkness effective Wednesday following the nationwide strike by electricity workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Ikeja Electric Plc and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) confirmed the development in separate public notices to their customers.

    The DisCo said the picketing of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) by the union members had plunged customers under their networks into darkness.

    “Due to the ongoing nationwide picketing of Transmission Stations by the NUEE, we are currently experiencing disruption of power supply as most stations within our network have been shut down.

    “Kindly bear with us as we await amicable resolution by the relevant stakeholders. Thank you for your usual understanding and cooperation,” Ikeja Electric said.

    Similarly, EKEDC said the grounding of activities at the TCN-controlled power stations had led to the disruption of electricity supply to customers across the country.

    “In the meantime, we would like to reassure our esteemed customers that we are currently working with the relevant regulatory authorities and the parties involved to reach an amicable resolution. Thank you for your understanding”, the DisCo said.

    Electricity workers strike: Entire South-East thrown into darkness

    Earlier, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) announced power supply disruption within the South-East due to the strike by electricity workers.

    This is contained in a statement made available by the Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, on Wednesday in Enugu.

    “Following the industrial strike embarked upon by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), power stations operations across the franchise area of EEDC plc have been disrupted.

    “As a result of this, all our feeders are out of supply and this has affected supply to our esteemed customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states,” he said.

    According to him, consultations are ongoing among critical stakeholders in the power sector to address the issue and possibly restore supply.

    “The management of EEDC hereby encourages customers and neighbourhood associations to be vigilant and protect electrical installations within their environment against elements who might take advantage of this outage to vandalise installations,” he said.

    The EEDC spokesman also appealed for continued patience and understanding of the company’s esteemed customers “while this is resolved”.

    TNG reports that NUEE in a notice signed by its General Secretary, Mr Joe Ajaero, had directed its members to stop work effective Aug. 17. The union had earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Chief Executive Officer of TCN on May 18, threatening to down tools if its complaints were not resolved.

    The electricity workers are protesting the non-payment of outstanding arrears owed to former workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). NUEE is also protesting the suspension of conditions of service and career paths for workers and the directive by the TCN board to conduct promotion interviews for acting principal managers who are moving to Assistant General Managers among others.

  • BREAKING: Electricity workers shutdown national grid

    BREAKING: Electricity workers shutdown national grid

    After appeals to suspend their proposed strike failed, electricity workers in Nigeria, under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have shut down the national grid and gone on strike.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the development has thrown the nation into darkness as the electricity workers shut down the national grid around 11.30 am on Wednesday, multiple sources at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) have confirmed.

    Recall that NUEE had on August 15 directed its members to picket offices of TCN nationwide on August 16, after which, embark on strike on August 17 (today).

    The General Secretary, NUEE, Mr Joe Ajaero had, in a statement, said the picketing was to protest the directive by the TCN board that all Principal Managers in acting capacity going to Acting General Manager must appear for a promotion interview.

    Ajaero said the directive was in contravention of the workers’ conditions of service and career progression paths, and alleged that it was unilaterally done without the relevant stakeholders.

    Other issues raised include stigmatisation of staff from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation from working in other areas in the power sector, and non-payment of December 2019 entitlement of ex-PHCN staff.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of the TCN, Dr Sule Abdulaziz had, in a letter on Tuesday, following the threat by the workers to embark on the strike to drive home their demands, appealed to the electricity workers to suspend their proposed strike.

    Dr Abdulaziz disclosed that the management of TCN had suspended the said proposed interview for those on acting appointment of Assistant General Managers and General Managers while discussion with the board is concluded.

    “On the other two issues: circular from the office of Head of Service on stigmatisation of the defunct PHCN staff; payment of entitlement of ex-PHCN staff by market operator, the management has contacted the Honourable Minister of Power for his further action.

    “In view of this development, we appeal to your union to stay action; please accept the assurances of our highest regards,” Abdulaziz stated.

    Also, the Minister of State for Power, Mr Goddy Jedy-Agba, in a letter dated August 15, 2022 to the union, said that the ministry was committed to proffering solutions that would 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 acceptable resolution of all issues,“ he said.