Power Ministry Shutdown: Unions Protest Tariff Hike, TCN Reforms

Electricity unions strike at the Power Ministry against TCN unbundling and rate increases.

On Monday, May 20, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) interrupted business as usual at the Ministry of Power's Abuja headquarters.

The powerhouse building in Abuja's Maitama neighborhood was also closed off by union members, thereby keeping out Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power, and other ministry employees.

Igwebike Dominic, the General Secretary of NUEE, clarified that the action was initiated in order to resolve issues and seek a reversal of the electricity pricing hike.

He said that on Friday, May 17, company operations were suspended and all ministry employees were evacuated.

Dominic went on to say that a 14-day ultimatum led to the action's suspension on May 20.

“There had been calls for us to relax the action and for now we have given them a 14-day ultimatum to reverse the hike,” he stated.

On the same Monday, the SSAEAC and NUEE jointly sent a letter containing their demands to the minister.

They demanded that tariff hikes be immediately reversed and that the current situation be maintained for the next two weeks, beginning on May 20.

“We are taken aback by the utmost disregard for the critical stakeholders in the power sector by you and your agency's unilateral and detrimental decisions in the sector,” the unions said.

“We believe that all agencies, under your ministry, should key into your agenda and set goals by extension to the vision of this administration in seeking a regular and sustainable power supply in the country.

“So, the disruption being engineered by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in the sector is not surprising as there is no known agenda or vision for the power sector by your administration one year after the resumption of office.

“The unfortunate scenario playing out in the Power Sector points to the fact that you administer the sector like a personal estate with no consideration for the welfare and survival of the workers and the sector in general.

“In retrospect, since you assumed office a year ago, your ministry and NERC have been running the sector without recourse to critical stakeholders in the power industry.”

The unions not only made their main requests but also asked for a reassessment of the sector's employees' wages.

In addition, they required that the Transmission Company of Nigeria, or TCN, cease any unfair deductions and return all money that had been taken out to TCN as soon as possible. Additionally, the unions demanded that all employees in the industry receive units of electricity refunds.

The Federal Government's refusal to stop the unbundling of TCN, which was carried out without sufficient engagement with all important parties, was another important demand.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and other associated organizations protested the rise in electricity rates for Band A users at the same time.