Retrenched PHCN employees grieve over unpaid gratuities

Retrenched employees of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Bauchi have expressed displeasure over non-payment of their gratuities.

The group’s President, Mr. Musa Gidado, speaking during a protest by the disengaged staff, said more than five years after privatisation of the power sector in November 2013, they have not been paid, despite promises, with some of his colleagues unable to cater for their families.

He listed the outstanding benefits to include; completion of non-payment of some disengaged staff, non-payment of 7.5 percent pension component by the government/employer, non-payment of 16 months arrears, as a result of delay in handing over from July 2012 to October 2013 and non-payment of 10 per cent equity share allotted to disengaged PHCN staff privatization, among others.

One of the affected staff, Jamilu Shehu, who lost his right arm, aside sustaining an injury on his head while on duty, said: “I cry everyday when I remember my right arm. I was on duty working on a transformer when an accident happened with the transformer going up in flame.”

He said it was while on sick bed that he was informed that he had been sacked. “I spent months in hospital, shouldering the medical bills. A refund was promised, but was not redeemed.”