Union

Abuja, Sept. 26, 2023:  The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) says it has given the Minister of Power, Mr Adelabu Adebayo two week to address outstanding issues of prepaid meters to Nigerians, among others.

Mr Dominic Igwebike, NUEE Acting (Ag). General Secretary said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to Igwebike, 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.

“This is while having less than 4,500mw 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.

“Should the minister fail to address these issues within two (2) weeks, he should preoccupy himself with recruiting NSA officials to run the sector,”he said.

He added that, it is expedient that the Federal Government should puts round pegs in round holes and not appointees whose qualifications are Political considerations.

Igwebike however, said NUEE expressed worried at the public display of ignorance by the newly appointed minister since his assumption of office.

He noted that it was unfortunate that since his assumption of office, the minister had not deemed it necessary to reach out to critical stakeholders in the Power Sector.

“This is with a view towards engendering effective collaboration, optimising productivity and increasing power output.

“Also, with impeccable Industrial Relations atmosphere required to achieve them,” he said.

Igwebike noted that rather, the minister had embarked on a media frenzy to allegedly misinform Nigerians and openly threaten workers in the sector.

NUEE General Secretary added that, it is on record that the Power Sector had not experienced any system collapse in over 400 days.

He said this was due to the industrious and hard-working members that made up the workforce.

Igwebike said the minister should be guided to the effect that the Power Sector did not experience any system collapse during the two-day warning strike.

“That was declared across the nation by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which we are affiliated to.

“He should be educated to the effect that he cannot decree strike out of existence.

But the minister has decided to play to the gallery.

“That is like some of his predecessors, by promising thousands of megawatts without any Roadmaps to achieving them.

“You cannot build something on nothing.

In order to achieve impeccable improvements and rejuvenate the Power Sector,” he said.