Electricity workers shut down national grid

electricity - power supply- blackout

Electricity workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees have shut down the national grid over their unresolved issues with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The union had directed workers nationwide to commence an indefinite strike on Wednesday and also picket transmission stations across the country.

In a circular 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 alleged anti-masses activities.

One of their demands is the payment of entitlements of former staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) since December 2019.

On Tuesday, the aggrieved workers were at the headquarters of the TCN in Abuja as a prelude to the strike.

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company on Wednesday said it is shutting down its operations.

The distribution company asked the public in a statement posted on Twitter to bear with it.

“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 company said.