Reps summon Power, Labour Ministers over planned strike by electricity workers

The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Labour
and Employment and the Minister of Power as well as the
Director-General of the National Pension Commission to appear
before it on Thursday, December 12, 2019 to brief the leadership on
the planned strike by electricity workers in the country.

The House expressed displeasure that the 21-day ultimatum issued
by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) was allowed
to elapse without any effort to nip the planned strike in the
bud.

The summon arose as a result of a motion of urgent public
importance sponsored by Hon. Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) on the
need for the House to intervene and ensure that the strike is not
allowed to take place.

Okechukwu said that if the strike is allowed to take place, it
is capable of creating untold economic hardship in the country as
several business outfits, especially the small scale businesses
will suffer.

He said it was not in the interest of the nation to allow the
strike to go ahead, adding that as representatives of the people,
the lawmakers must find solution by inviting the relevant
stakeholders to dialogue with a view to finding lasting solution to
the problem.

He said it is not economically wise to allow the unions go ahead
with the planned strike, pointing out that the Union should be
prevailed upon to back down on their threat while the leadership
find a lasting solution.

He said if the strike is allowed to take place, the consequence
will be more than what the workers are being owed, stressing the
fact that the House has already resolved to come down hard in
issues of casualisation.

In his contribution, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said one of the critical
issues on the legislative agenda of the House was the issue of
power reform, adding that there is presently no guarantee that the
nation can effectively distribute 100 megawatts of electricity
daily.

He said the distribution companies presently does not have the
capacity to distribute the about 4000 megawatts of electricity
being generated, saying “imagine is that is now shut down
completely. Everybody will now go after generating set to be able
to operate”.

He said it is unfortunate that a 21-day ultimatum was given by
the unions and allowed to expire without those concerned inviting
them for dialogue, adding that if the House leadership does not
intervene, the issue may go out of hand.

House Deputy Leader, Hon. Peter Akpatason said if the Parliament
is not decisive enough, the Union members will embark on strike,
pointing out that this is worrisome enough to attract House
intervention.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila directs the Clerk
of the House to write and invite the two Ministers of Power and
Labour, the DG PENCOM, the Union leadership and other stakeholders
to a meeting with the House leadership by 2.00PM on Thursday, while
underground efforts should be made to get the Union not to commence
the planned strike action.

Details shortly…