Assault on Ajaero: Blackout looms as electricity employees join nationwide withdrawal of service
Oredola Adeola
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has announced a nationwide withdrawal of service starting from Tuesday, November 14, 2023, due to the failure of the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the NLC and TUC from the shortfall of the recent assault of Joe Ajaero, NLC President, in Imo State on November 1, 2023.
Dominic Igwebike, NUEE Acting General Secretary, signed the statement obtained by EnergyDay on Monday.
The Union in the statement has therefore ordered all National, State, and Chapter executives to mobilize all Union members in total compliance with this directive.
The NUEE further noted that the withdrawal of services nationwide would commence from 0.00 hours of Tuesday, November 14, 2023, and charged all Union leaders to ensure total compliance.
As of Tuesday morning, the national headquarters of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), also known as Powerhouse, in Abuja, was reportedly under locks and key, with staff being denied access by union leaders in compliance with ongoing developments.
A source at the TCN headquarter informed our correspondent that the solidarity actions will have implications for electricity supply during previous shut-down leading to nationwide blackout.
EnergyDay confirmed that the nationwide strike is expected to have a significant impact on the electricity sector and the Nigerian economy as a whole.
Festus Osifo, President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Monday, November 13, said the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility.
The NLC and TUC in a letter jointly signed by Emmanuel Ugboaja, National Secretary of the NLC, and Nuhu Toro, Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, to the affiliates demanded for compliance.
The group had their request asked President Bola Tinubu-led government to immediately sack the Commissioner of Police in Imo State and the Area Commander, among other officials, for their alleged complicity in the brutalisation and humiliation of Comrade Ajaero and other workers.
