ULC urges Federal Government to pay 16 months arrears of 48,000 ex-PHCN workers

The United Labour Congress (ULC) has called on the Federal Government to pay the severance package of 48,000 workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) disengaged four years ago.

The union said that the workers are still owed over 16 months’ arrears in agreed payments, while over 2,000 more workers have not received any severance package since then.

The president of ULC, Joe Ajaero who disclosed this during the union’s, Central Working Committee (CWC) in Lagos, said that the over 2000 workers are already wallowing in perpetual hunger and suffering with their family members.

Ajaero said the union expects the present administration after three years in the saddle to critically review the privatisation of the electricity industry.

He observed that the Chairman of National Council on Privatisation, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has not mentioned the issue since he came on board.

According to him, the status quo has rather deepened even as the nation suffers increasing gaps in electricity supply as more households wallow in darkness.

The labour union called on government to review the privatisation of the electricity sector rather than extorting Nigerians through estimated billings and poor electricity supply.

It added: “The exercise has not worked and has become currently a platform for official corruption.

We do not understand why this government will continue the fraudulent dishing of taxpayers’ fund to private entities to which it has sold its assets.

“While we support any programme and actions that will lead to new investments in Nigeria, thus creating jobs for the citizenry, we do not support half-baked, ill-conceived and politically driven projects that are fraught with irregularities and corruption.”