AMADI CHIGOZIE
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has urged the minister of Power, Adelabu Adebayo to focus on tackling concerned issues in power sector and enhance greater productivity, rather than issuing threat to workers at will.
NUEE said the minister should concentrate on resolving outstanding issues such as the refusal to issue prepaid meters to Nigerians who are being compelled to pay imposed crazy bills; while having less than 4,500mw output of electricity, refusal of most Generation Companies (GenCos) led by Egbin Power Plc who it said have flagrantly disobeyed all extant Labour laws since taking over in November 2013 and non-payment of 16 months arrears arising from severance
In a statement signed by the Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Dominic Igwebike, the Union said if the Minister fails to address the issues within two weeks, he should preoccupy himself with recruiting National Security Agency (NSA) Officials to run the Sector.
It stated that “We are worried at the public display of ignorance by the newly appointed Honourable Minister of Power – Mr. Adelabu Adebayo, since his assumption of office.
“It is unfortunate that since his assumption of office, the Honourable Minister has not deemed it necessary to reach out to critical Stakeholders in the Power Sector, with a view towards engendering effective collaboration, optimizing productivity and increasing Power output and impeccable Industrial Relations atmosphere required to achieve them.
“Rather, he has embarked on a Media frenzy to misinform Nigerians and openly threaten workers in the Sector. It is on record that the Power Sector had not experienced any System collapse in over 400 days due to the industrious and hard-working members that make up the Workforce.
“The Honourable Minister should be guided to the effect that the Power Sector did not experience any System collapse during the two (2) days warning Strike 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; 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, it is expedient that the Federal Government puts round pegs in round holes and not Appointees whose qualifications are Political considerations”.
