Electricity workers suspend strike for 2 weeks

A conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the striking electricity workers this evening ended on a positive note in Abuja.

At the end of the three-hour long meeting, the workers agreed to suspend the industrial action which has thrown the country into total blackout.

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

Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company had announced a shutdown of operations following the issues between the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TUC).

In a statement on Wednesday via its verified Twitter handle, @IkejaElectric, the Disco announced the shutdown of operations.

The statement reads partly: “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 an amicable resolution by the relevant stakeholders.”

The organised labour had directed workers in the power sector to shutdown and commence an indefinite strike on Wednesday over pending issues with the TCN.

The aggrieved workers under the aegis of the NUEE were at the Abuja national headquarters of the TCN Tuesday as a prelude to the proposed strike.

The union noted that the strike was in protest of a directive by the TCN Board mandating all PMs in acting capacity going to the Annual General Meeting to appear for promotional interview.

In a circular titled, ‘Call to Action,’ which was addressed to senior assistant general secretaries and zonal organising secretaries, dated August 15, 2022, the General Secretary of the NUEE, Joe Ajaero, directed electricity workers to ensure total compliance, vowing to paralyse operations of the TCN nationwide over anti-masses activities.