NUEE slams Minister Adelabu for warning against unauthorized shutdowns of national grid during strikes
Oredola Adeola
The National Union of Electricity Employees(NUEE) has criticized the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, for warning electricity workers against unauthorized shutdowns of the national grid during industrial actions, calling him ignorant about the nation’s power sector and lacking the capacity to run Nigeria’s power sector effectively.
Dominic Igwebike, Acting General Secretary of NUEE made this known on Monday in a statement announcing the union’s displeasure at the Minister’s speech against industrial actions.
According to the AGS, Minister Adelabu’s public display of ignorance since he assumed office convinced the workers that he lacked the capacity to run Nigeria’s power sector effectively.
Igwebike said, “Since his assumption of office, the Minister has not deemed it necessary to reach out to critical stakeholders in the Power Sector, with a view to engendering effective collaboration, optimizing productivity and increasing Power output and impeccable Industrial Relations atmosphere required to achieve them.
He lamented that the Minister has rather embarked on a media frenzy to misinform Nigerians and openly threaten workers in the sector.
He disclosed that the power sector had not experienced any system collapse in over 400 days due to the industrious and hard-working members that make up the workforce.
The NUEE AGS therefore charged the Minister to be guided to the effect that the power sector did not experience any System collapse during the two days warning Strike declared across the nation by organised labour.
He said, “He should be educated to the effect that he cannot decree Strike out of existence.
The electricity workers therefore emphasised that the Power Minister has decided to play to the gallery; like some of his predecessors, by promising thousands of megawatts without any Roadmaps to achieve them. You cannot build something on anything.
Igwebike said, “In order to achieve impeccable improvements and rejuvenate the power sector, it is expedient that the Federal Government puts round pegs in round holes and not Appointees whose qualifications are Political considerations.
“The Minister should be concerned with outstanding issues which include: the refusal to issue prepaid meters to Nigerians who are being compelled to pay imposed crazy bills; while having less than 4,500MegaWatts(MW) output of electricity, refusal of most Generation Companies (GenCos) led by Egbin Power Plc who have flagrantly disobeyed all extant Labour laws since taking over in November 2013 and non-payment of 16 months arrears arising from severance; just to mention a few,” Igwebike, Acting General Secretary of NUEE concluded in the statement.
Adelabu, Minister of Power, had during a tour of the National Control Centre facilities in Osogbo and the Osogbo sub-regional office of TCN on Friday, warned electricity workers against unauthorized shutdowns of the national grid during industrial actions, which it described as an act of economic sabotage and threats to national security.
He revealed that the Ministry has initiated collaboration with the office of the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to enhance security around power installations across Nigeria, following the recent nationwide grid collapse and blackout due to a fire outbreak at the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s Kainji/Jebba 330kV line 2 (Cct K2J) blue phase CVT and Blue phase line Isolator of Kainji/Jebba 330kV line1.
