NUPENG threatens to disrupt gas supply over workers’ sack by IKEDC

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to shut down the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) in protest against an alleged unlawful termination of the appointments of 400 workers by Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC).

The NGC is saddled with the supply of gas to thermal stations and plants for electricity generation. Electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) rely on generation companies (GENCOs) for power supply. Disruption of gas supply will affect power generation, and this is bound to have negative consequences on supply of power to the end users.

IKEDC, also known as Ikeja Electric (IE), is one of the two companies saddled with electricity supply to end users in Lagos. The other is Eko Distribution Company (EKEDC). Power supply to homes and offices in Lagos Sate is presently at its ebbs, as generation nationwide has dropped below 3,000 megawatt. The union’s threat to disrupt gas supply if carried out will further worsen generation and supply situation.

Igwe Achese, president of NUPENG, who raised the issue on Tuesday, said they were aligning with the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to demand the recall of the 400 workers by IKEDC within seven days or the union would be forced to shut down NGC, thereby holding gas supply.

“NUPENG joins NUEE in the seven-day ultimatum given to Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company to recall the sacked workers, failure which, the union will shut down the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) that is saddled with supply of gas to thermal stations and plants all over the country,” the union said.

According to the union, it has put its members working with the NGC on notice to commence a shutdown of supplies of gas to the thermal stations and plants if the 400 workers are not recalled at the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum. It argued that the 400 workers of Ikeja Electric were “sacked without due process to relevant labour laws in the country.”

The union also called on the Federal Government to quickly address the issue of non-payment of salaries to National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) members in the last 16 months across the country.

“NUPENG also joins in solidarity to call on the Federal Government to intervene in the payment of severance benefits to 5,000 members of NUEE laid off during the last privatisation exercise.

“Relevant authorities like the Federal Ministry of Power, National Electricity Regulatory Agency (NERC) should call the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company to order so that the nation will not be plunged into darkness in the next one week,” the union said.