Electricity Workers Threaten Nationwide Strike

Nigeria faces a potential total blackout as electricity workers, united under the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), have issued a stern 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address a laundry list of unfulfilled demands. The union cites pervasive anti-labour practices, including wage violations and worsening job insecurity within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), as the driving force behind this decisive action.

Failure to resolve these critical issues within the stipulated three-week period will result in a nationwide strike designed to cripple both electricity generation and distribution across the country. This threat follows years of frustration, with union leaders claiming these grievances have remained unaddressed for over a decade despite numerous letters to the Ministry of Power.

In a formal notice addressed to the Minister of Power, NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, highlighted the ministry’s apparent lack of interest in tackling precarious working conditions, particularly within power-generating and distributing companies since the privatization of the sector. The union accuses employers of refusing to implement the 2025 National Minimum Wage Act and rejecting collective negotiations regarding conditions of service.

Furthermore, workers allege that their constitutional right to unionize is being violated, with management actively restricting union activities and refusing to remit deducted union dues. The financial negligence extends to statutory obligations, with the union alleging that Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes and pension contributions have not been remitted for prolonged periods, with some cases involving non-remittance for up to 82 months.

The union also reported widespread harassment, intimidation, and the militarization of workplaces, specifically mentioning companies like Ikeja Electric and Egbin Power Plc. Despite repeated electricity tariff hikes and increased revenue for power companies, workers claim there has been no corresponding improvement in their welfare, promotions, or bonuses.

NUEE concludes that the privatization exercise has failed to deliver on promises of capital injection and improved infrastructure, placing the burden of customer anger on innocent employees. The union demands immediate intervention from the Federal Government to avert a nationwide crippling of the power sector.