Electricity Black Out: Transmission Stations Shut Down Across Nigeria

By Tolulope Oke

According to Nairametrics, Labour Unions have shut down major Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) stations across the country, cutting power supply to electricity consumers.

This comes In response to labour unions’ disputes with the Ministry of Power, threatening to shut down the power supply.

The power employees said that the drill they conducted on Tuesday was a practice for an indefinite strike action that is expected to begin today. The angry electricity workers had threatened to shut down TCN’s operations due to its anti-masses activities.

In response to the threat of industrial action, the TCN pleaded with electrical workers to postpone their planned strike over staff welfare and assured them that it has taken steps to address the problems raised by the union.

Also, the Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, appealed to the union to give the government 2 weeks to address the issues raised and come up with proposals for an acceptable resolution of all of them.

He noted that the ministry was committed to proffering solutions that would be acceptable to all parties concerned.

Reports indicate that affected states include Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abuja and others

The NUEE announced that its members would continue their industrial action with a complete withdrawal of service on Wednesday in a letter dated August 16, 2022, written by Joe Ajaero, the union’s general secretary, and sent to the Minister of State for Power.

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In the letter, Ajaero expressed sadness over the fact that, three years after the union and TCN achieved their agreement as a result of the minister’s intervention, it has still not been put into effect.

The letter in part reads: ‘’It is disheartening that an agreement reached with the union as a result of the interventions from your esteemed office almost 3 years down the line has not been implemented. Unfortunately, the issues raised and not addressed have relapsed/metamorphosed as part of the causes of the industrial unrest in the sector.

“On the stigmatization of staff from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation from working in other areas in the power sector, we are not sure you are speaking for the Head of Service after memos addressed to that office several months ago have gone without any acknowledgement.

“On the issue affecting violations/contravention of TCN’s conditions of Service by TCN Board, the management has only written by proxy for the board.’

“Premised on the foregoing, we may be constrained to continue with this action by Wednesday 17th August 2022 with total withdrawal of services.

“However, the union is still open to decisive discussions with relevant actions, with a view to proffering solutions to the issues raised and averting the total collapse of the sector…”