Blackout in Kaduna ahead of NLC warning strike

Niger NUT suspends industrial action
Management of Kaduna Electric, yesterday, plunged the state into darkness, a day to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s proposed five-day warning strike.

NLC’s directive was that the warning strike should commence by midnight on Sunday. But KE seemed to have downed tools on Saturday night, apparently to protect its facilities in the state.

Head of Corporate Communications of the electricity distribution company, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, stated yesterday: “The Management of Kaduna Electric regrets to inform its customers in Kaduna State that the service interruption currently being experienced in the state is as a result of the industrial action embarked upon NLC.

“In compliance with the NLC directive, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has knocked off all our 33KV lines in Kaduna State. Consequently, we are appealing to all communities, security agencies and vigilante groups to be vigilant, so that men of underworld will not cash in on the situation to vandalise power installations.”

He urged the communities to report any suspicious movement around distribution sub-stations (transformers) to the relevant security agency.

MEANWHILE, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Niger State Wing, has suspended the industrial action embarked upon by its members across the state, following agreements reached between the state government and the union at a meeting anchored by Governor Abubakar Bello at Government House, Minna, on May 10, 2021.

A statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Umar Ibrahim; Principal Assistant Secretary-General, Labaran Garba; and Association Of Primary School Headteachers Of Nigeria (AOPSHON), State Chairperson, Fatima Kutigi, indicated that the resolutions were reached with the state government include the full implementation of Teachers’ Salary Scale (TSS) for practising Teachers/Quality Assurance Officers only.

The statement also explained that government agreed to refund the domestic allowance for teachers on directorate cadres from Grade Level 15 to 17 that was mistakenly cut off for the month of April 2021.

It revealed that government also agreed to domesticate 65 years of age or 40 years of service, whichever comes first, for teachers, in accordance with extant laws, and based on specific criteria.

NUT, therefore, called on its members at both primary and post-primary schools across the state to return to their duty posts immediately, as the leadership of the union would continue to pursue the full implementation of all agreements reached.