Power Transmission Not Affected By Current Labour Issue, Says Transmission Company of Nigeria

Minister of Power, Works & Housing Babatunde Fashola and Minister of Trade & Investment Okechukwu Enelamah shortly before President Buhari presided over Federal Executive Council Meeting (FEC) in Statehouse on 20th April 2016

Press Statement

The attention of The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has been drawn to publications in the media insinuating looming nationwide blackout due to the ongoing labour lockdown of the TCN headquarters in Abuja. The Transmission Company of Nigeria wishes to clearly state that there would be no blackout in the nation as TCN staff in its regional offices nationwide, who are responsible for the actual wheeling of bulk electricity, are at their duty posts, ensuring that electricity generated by power generating stations is seamlessly transmitted to distribution load centres nationwide.

In a statement signed by the GM (Public Affairs), Seun Olagunju, TCN explained that the on-going labour issues affect administrative work only at the corporate headquarters of TCN and that the company’s ability to carry out its core duty of wheeling bulk electricity is not in any way  hampered by the inability of staff at the corporate headquarters (whose core duties are mainly administrative and supervisory), to temporarily gain access to their offices. Moreover, engineers whose core duty it is to ensure that electricity is efficiently wheeled through high tension transmission lines and substations located in various areas across the country, work in the regional offices and work centres. Presently, these engineers are at their duty posts, performing their duties assiduously. As such, the issue of imminent blackout does not arise.

According to the statement, because the company recognizes the importance of coordinating and supervising the activities of TCN regional offices by the Corporate Headquarters,

communication between key management staff and the regions has been continuous through the telephone and Internet services.

TCN assures its customers and the public that meetings are however currently on-going between the affected parties to quickly resolve outstanding issues.

TCN reiterates its commitment to continue to work with other stakeholders towards the growth of the sector and improvement of power supply in Nigeria.

Seun Olagunju

GM (Public Affairs)

Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).