Blackout looms as Nigerian electricity workers join labour unions’ strike

Lagos Mag
Lagos Mag  - Content Writer
2 Min Read

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has directed its members to commence full mobilisation to ensure compliance with the directive of the Nigerian labour unions to embark on a nationwide strike.

 

The NUEE in a notice signed by its acting general secretary, Dominic Igwebike, on Monday, urged its members to comply with the directive and stop work from the early hours of Tuesday.

 

The NUEE members’ strike could throw the country into darkness, given the workers’ critical roles in electricity distribution in the country.

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared the strike, following the brutalisation of the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State on 1 November.

 

Mr Ajaero was attacked in Owerri, the state capital, during an NLC protest against the Imo State government over alleged maltreatment of workers in the state.

 

The unions on Monday directed their members to down tools across the country as from Tuesday.

 

This is despite the restraining order issued by the National Industrial Court, in Abuja, on Friday, stopping the labour unions from embarking on the strike. The judge, Benedict Kanyip, ordered the two major labour unions to stop their industrial action scheduled to commence on 14 November.

 

The interim order followed an ex-parte request by the Nigerian government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, due to the Labour unions’ threat to embark on strike.

Share this Article
18 Comments