NUEE alleges Discos use dubious antics to rob Nigerians

• Seeks reversal of privatization policy
• Problem of finance may stall FG, union negotiation as ultimatum elapses today

Electricity workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), yesterday, alleged that electricity distribution companies (Discos) were using dubious antics to rob Nigerians.

The workers also called for the reversal of the privatisation of the power sector. Assistant General Secretary, Western Zone of the union, Modupeoluwa Akinola, while addressing journalists on behalf of his colleagues, said distribution companies had failed to upgrade since the sector was privatised.

MEANWHILE, there are indications that problem of finance may delay ongoing negotiation meeting between the Federal Government and the NUEE, as the two-week ultimatum by the union elapses today.

A reliable source had told The Guardian that the committee inaugurated to look at the issues, said that even as the level of discussions is progressing, there may be restiveness in the power sector, as government agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), kept sending letters to the union, requesting for letters of agreement, which may further aggravate industrial action.

The source said since talks were ongoing, they want to give everyone involved benefit of doubt since the committee will meet today.

“With sponsored attacks against the union, we shall hold strongly to the two weeks and see who will force us to work.

“The era of slave labour is over. We now have employer and employees relationship. They cannot reinvent the era of forced labour. Both parties must respect the sanctity of collective agreement and contract.”

SIMILARLY, NUEE’s Assistant General Secretary, Lagos/Ogun, Temple Iworima, yesterday at a press briefing, lamented the ‘hustlers’ in the power sector, stating that they deceived the Federal Government into paying almost N2 trillion subvention to the owners of the new companies since privatisation.

He said they were being used to call the union names to exploit Nigerians and sustain the current comatose situation.

“The same ‘hawks’, who were gifted the DisCos and GenCos have sharpened their propaganda machineries through these same hustlers that midwifed the privatisation of the power sector just to distract and hoodwink Nigerians from knowing the real issues.”