The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has compelled its Kaduna State chapter to comply fully with the 5-day warning strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to protest the mass sack of workers in Kaduna State by Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
Comrade Ajaero, Deputy President, NLC and General Secretary NUEE gave the directive in a circular dated May 11, 2021 and addressed to all members of the union in Kaduna State Council.
He said :“In line with NLC directive on shut down of activities in Kaduna, you are hereby directed to ensure TOTAL BLACK OUT in Kaduna by 00 hours on Saturday, 15th May, 2021.”
In the circular entitled: “Total Blackout in Kaduna”, Comrade Ajaero further stated: “You should liaise with other States or Regions through which Kaduna could be back fed to ensure that there is no supply to Kaduna.Any station or officer whose unit is found wanting, the chapter or state Council will be sanctioned for anti-union activities.”
He therefore called on the council to “ensure total compliance.”
The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had Monday disclosed plans embark on a five-day warning strike to protest the sacking of over 4,000 workers by the Kaduna State government.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, and jointly signed by the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Suleiman and the Secretary, Comrade Christiana Bawa, the body said the warning strike would commenced by midnight on Sunday, May 16, 2021.
The statement said the decision to embark on the warning strike was taken at an emergency meeting held in Kaduna with a delegation from the National Secretariat of the NLC.
The statement insisted that due process was not followed in the recent disengagement of over 4,000 workers from the Local Government Service, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the State Primary Health Care Agency
The statement said the warning strike involved total withdrawal of services, adding that it would be monitored by the National President, Mr. Ayuba Waba and the general secretaries of the NLC of all the unions to ensure enforcement.
The statement directed all civil servants in the state to remain at home for five days after which further directive would be given.
It also called on “civil society organisations, journalists, market women and men, Okada riders and well-meaning citizens to support workers in Kaduna State at this trying time.”
The state government had embarked on mass sacking of workers, saying that its finances had been severely affected by higher wage bills at a time when revenues from the Federation Account Allocations Committee (FAAC) have not increased.
