Electricity workers under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have threatened to shut down the national grid if the Federal Government (FG) fails to honour their demands.
The aggrieved workers said the two weeks given to resolve the crisis have elapsed.
The zonal organizing secretary, North West of NUEE, Comrade Dukat Ayuba said that while negotiation is still ongoing, the shutting down of the national grid still hangs.
“The so-called privatization of the sector was a scam because nine years after being taken over by investors nothing has changed,” they alleged.
“That was why we kicked against privitasing the distribution sector because the investors don’t have the capacity and expertise. As committed Nigerians we advised government against it. But the government was hell-bent of doing so.
The investors are still operating with obsolete equipment dating back to 35, 40, and 50 years. One will expect that with the coming of the investors they will replaced this obsolete equipment but nothing has been done,” NUEE said.
The union said the nation still generates 5,000 megawatts of electricity, adding that “this is the same 5,000 megawatts we used to generate. So what is the benefit of privitazation? We now generate megawatts with higher tariffs bringing hardships to the homes of millions of Nigerians. This will only happen in Nigeria.
A member of Central Executive Committee, Wisdom Nwachukwu noted that the Federal Government now wants to sell Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“They are going behind meeting with some stakeholders. We are watching them. We will not allow that. We are patriotic Nigerians who want the best for our country,” he said.
The Vice President, North West, NUEE Ado Gaya revealed that the 16 months demanded by the electricity workers is their legitimate earnings which involve 55,000 workers.
He said nine years after, the workers have not received a dime, while many of the workers have died, and those who were laid off are suffering with their families.
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