Electricity workers threaten to cut supply to South West

 Workers in the nation’s power sector have threatened to cut supply to the South West states in protest against the recent alleged brutality of their members in Ibadan, Oyo State, by officers of the Nigerian Air Force.

The workers, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), frowned at the treatment and said it would no longer tolerate the continued victimisation of their members.

Joe Ajaero, the union general secretary, in a statement said the Air Force is being given two weeks to apologise for its action failing which it threatened to direct workers to withdraw their services in the South West zone and all Air Force formations across the country.

The union alleged that the “dastardly act” was carried out at different work locations at Ipetu-Ijesha and Ilesa town on the same day by the officers attached to Nigeria Air Force, Ipetu- Ijesha, Osun State.

The workers threatened that industrial action shall precede a nationwide outage in solidarity with the affected victims should the Air Force fail to resolve the issue amicably.

“The physical torture, emotional and psychological trauma being meted on members of staff of PHCN who incidentally belong to the NUEE has reached a crescendo that can no longer be tolerated.

“It is in this circumstance that we highlight the recent brutality and physical torture of our members at the Ibadan zone by men of the Air Force. Our members were at work, performing their legitimate duties when officers of the Air Force barged into their work beat and unleashed torture on them.

“As we condemn this callous and dastardly act in very strong terms, we emphasise that if by April 2, 2013, the Nigeria Air Force refuses to accept responsibility and apologise for their action, our men will withdraw their services in the South West zone and all Air Force formations in the country. This shall precede a nationwide outage in solidarity of the affected victims, if after 14 days this issue is not peacefully resolved.

“We cannot continue to suffer this level of violence in the hand of the military when we are in a democratic state,” the union stated.

JOSHUA BASSEY