Nationwide blackout looms as Nigerian electricity workers begin strike

Nigerians may experience blackout in the coming days as theNational Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, commenced a strike action onWednesday over non-implementation of the national minimum wage, casualisationof workers and other demands. The industrial action was disclosed in a notice signed bythe Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Dominic Igwebike, on Wednesday. The union said its decision to commence the strike actionfollows the expiration of the ultimatum issued to the Management of theTransmission Company of Nigeria,TCN, over its demands. NUEE said it cannot fold its hands while the Nigeria ElectricitySupply Industry, NESI, goes down the drain, hence the justification for thestrike action. “It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided tohandle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-workingstaff of TCN. This, they have displayed without any defined road map(s) toaddressing them. “We cannot continue to fold our arms while we watch ourrights being vehemently violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry(NESI) going down the drain. To this end, the Union is compelled to withdrawits services. “Members are hereby directed to withdraw services until suchtime that the management is ready to discharge its obligations towards theworkforce,” the notice reads. The union had downed tools in June 2024, leading to adisruption in electricity supply. Full text of the NUEE strike notice: A CALL TO ACTION Following the expiration of the Union’s ultimatum to TCNManagement over some staff welfare and operational issues, which include: 1. Non-implementation of National Minimum Wage 2. Casualisation of Workers 3. Non-provision of working tools and materials 4.Non-payment of staff salaries since April 2025 5. Lack of Operational Vehicles 6. Non-provision of PPEs since 2021 7. Issues arising from the unbundling of TCN 8. Non-payment of retirement benefits It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided tohandle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-workingstaff of TCN. This, they have displayed without any defined road map(s) toaddressing them. We cannot continue to fold our arms while we watch ourrights being vehemently violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry(NESI) going down the drain. To this end, the Union is compelled to withdrawits services. Members are hereby directed to withdraw services until suchtime that the management is ready to discharge its obligations towards theworkforce. This directive takes immediate effect and requires totalcompliance.

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