Mohammed Shosanya
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE),says the Transmission Company of Nigeria,TCN has invited military personnel to assault its members at various TCN locations who are currently protesting the plight of poor Nigerians.
Igwebike Dominic,Acting General Secretary,made the claim in a statement on Monday.
He warned that his union will not tolerate intimidation by the management of TCN
He lambasted the TCN for employing
propaganda to deliberately incite the public on the national grid’s shutdown.
He mentioned that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a press release dated 31st May 2024 and a circular to all its affiliates same day on the commencement of indefinite nationwide strike over the Federal Government’s failure to conclude and pass into Law a new National Minimum Wage Act and the refusal to reverse the vexatious hike in electricity tariff to N65/kwh.
He added:”The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) is an affiliate of the NLC and we are carrying out the directive of the Congress on the withdrawal of services according to the 31st May 2024 circular and Press Release.
All affiliates of the NLC and TUC obeyed the directives to withdraw services until all those issues are sorted out. Consequently, the union joined the action of withdrawing services and we are perplexed with the action of the TCN management. This begs us to understand if the TCN management is indifferent and happy with the suffering of the poor masses’ meager minimum wage of N35,000 compared to the currently over 200% cost of living in the country.
“TCN management should focus on improving the transmission network and reducing frequent national grid collapses rather than meddling in the affairs of the Union and NLC.
“This is a clarion call for the union to participate in the emancipation of the down-trodden Nigerians by fighting for a living wage and against discriminatory tariff hikes in the electricity sector to ensure that Nigerians deserve the right to accessible and affordable electricity services.
