PHCN Workers Threaten To Shut Down Power Sector

Employees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria
(PHCN) Wednesday warned the federal government
against secretly handing over the assets of Power
Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to private
investors without the conclusion of payment of workers
entitlements.
Speaking under the umbrella of the National Union of
Electricity Employees (NUEE), the union threatened to
shut down the industry should the investors go ahead to
take over on paper without allowing the Bureau of
Public Enterprises (BPE) and government to
conclusively sort out the outstanding labour issues with
the workers.
This, it stated, would be assumed that investors have
equally accepted to pay the outstanding liabilities to the
workers.
The union in a statement issued by its Secretary, Joe
Ajaero, pointed out that members had shown enough
patriotism and high level of understanding in the
discourse and warned that it could no longer guarantee
the safety of any investor, who may wish to dare the
union.
The statement read: "It has come to our notice that the
federal government through the BPE has resolved to
throw the power sector into turmoil by secretly handing
over the sector on paper. We are also aware that all the
Chief Executive Officers of the supposed unbundled
companies of PHCN have been called to Abuja and
directed to bring their letter-headed papers with a view
to signing off on paper in favour of the investors.
However, we wish to advise the investors not to fall
into the trap set up by the BPE and government who
were not able to conclusively clear the outstanding
huddles in relation to outstanding labour issues with the
workers.
"Should the investors go ahead to take over on paper
without allowing the BPE and government to
conclusively sort out the outstanding labour issues with
the workers, it would be assumed that they (investors)
have equally accepted to pay outstanding labour
liabilities. Therefore, they must be prepared to pay at
the gate of entry, every dime due the workers before
they are allowed in. For clarity, please note that these
issues are outstanding: payments of terminal benefits;
payment of the terminal benefits is yet to rise up to 50
per cent for the eligible workers, non-payment of
retirement savings fund to Pension Fund Administrators
(PFAs): Up till this moment, no efforts has been made
to commence payment. The PFAs can attest to this fact;
non-remittance of two per cent of the union deductions
as agreed: No word has been heard from the BPE/
government on remittance of this two per cent neither
has the deductions already made from the paid workers
remitted to the unions."
"Non-payment of retirees who disengaged since 2011:
It is absurd and sordid for government not to think of
settling these people who laboured over the years in
service of this country and get retired meritoriously,
while the privatisation exercise was on. Non
regularisation of some of the casuals already identified:
With the biometrics done and concluded, it becomes
worrisome on the continued delay in regularising the
casuals who had been identified based on agreements
already entered into. 10 per cent equity shareholding by
the workers: In line with the relevant laws, the workers
are entitled to 10 per cent equity share of the total sale
of PHCN. But it appears the government is bent on
short-changing the workers.
"The shortfall of terminal benefits from June 2012 till
date has not been considered for payment. Based on the
foregoing, we reiterate our advice to the investors to
ensure that they do not fall into the trap of the BPE/
government by taking over on paper. This is so because
we will not wish to allow our labour over the years to
go in vain.
"Please, steer clear PHCN facilities until all labour
issues are resolved. We equally appeal to good people
of Nigeria to show understanding and bear with us,
should we decide to dance to this music being played by
BPE."