Reps wade into electricity workers’ planned strike

The House of Representatives has resolved to wade into the planned strike by the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE).

To this end, the House has summoned the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, and Acting Director general of National Pension Commission, Hajia Aisha Dahir-Umar, over threats by NUEE to shut down electricity transmission.

The union had issued a 21 day ultimatum to the Ministry of Power, threatening to shutdown electricity generation, transmission and distribution, if their pensions, salaries and associated benefits were not paid within the period.

This followed a motion moved on Wednesday by Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Toby Okechukwu on the development,

“This intended strike by electricity that could lead to a standstill of the economy of the country, is looking; the 21 day ultimatum issued by NUEE on November 23, 2019, expires today, and still there is no response from the Ministry of Power  and Labour, therefore I would want the leadership of this House to urgently intervene, to avoid a total breakdown of the sector”, Mr. Toby submitted.

According to him, NUEE’s threat to “withdraw services, without notice”, may be activated, if the House did not quickly intervene, to thwart the strike. “The issue of power and associated elements of distribution and transmission, with the combined issues leading to a strike, will be too much for the country to bear”, the lawmaker warned.

Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, in his submissions therefore advised the Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila to contact NUEE “as soon as we leave here, before a possible shutdown tonight”.

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