Electricity Workers Snub Buhari’s Minister, Shut Down Nigeria’s Power Plants

Electricity workers have began industrial action in some areas in Nigeria, resulting to the national grid collapsing to 762.30MW, after the workers shutdown some power plant.

Prime Business Africa had reported earlier today that the workers under the umbrella of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) plan to commenced strike on Wednesday.

The NUEE members are demanding for improved staff welfare, as well as payment of entitlement to former workers of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and against stigmatisation.

Also on their list of demands is the cancellation of the promotion interview for acting principal managers that are vying for the position of the Assistant General Managers.

As a result of the strike, the grid power output fell gradually as Abuja power plant and others were turned off. Power generation fell from 4,149.40MW from 21 plants reported around 6am to 1,635MW from 17 plants.

The figure dropped again to 1,246.40MW, with three power plants turned off as at 12 noon, before crashing to 762.30MW with only 13 power plants active around 1pm.

NUEE workers went on with the strike despite pleas from Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, and the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz.

Jedy-Agba had requested that the government be given two weeks to meet their demands, but the electricity workers have vowed not to resume until their demands have been met.