Salvage power sector from total collapse, electricity workers tell FG

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has called on the Federal Government to urgently rescue the power sector from total collapse.

General Secretary, NUEE, Joe Ajaero, in a statement yesterday, said the call has become necessary following the recent inauguration of the Board of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

According to Ajaero, the Board as currently constituted lacks representation from the workers and does not enjoy robust composition required to bring about desired positive changes in the transmission sector.

He alleged that the Minister of Power, who is supposed to supervise the board, has since his appointment not had any interface with workers’ representatives with a view to appreciating the challenges facing the sector and proffering solutions to the perennial crisis.

On the new board of the TCN and the need to revamp the ailing power sector, he said it was pertinent to enquire what the terms of reference issued to them were. He cited several failed and uncompleted projects in the past, one of which he said was that of Siemens.

According to him, this brings to the fore numerous questions begging for answers concerning the composition of the TCN Board.

While querying the competence of board, Ajaero asked: “Is this a professional service board or political reward?

Can they deliver in terms of investment attractiveness, economy of scale and effectiveness? Is there any academia with specialisation in electronic movement design on this board? The power sector has to be salvaged and in doing so, we must put square pegs in square holes.”