NLC writes Ikeja Electric as NUPENG threatens to disrupt gas supply over workers’ sack 

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has aligned with National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), which gave the management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), also known as Ikeja Electric, up till next Monday to recall 400 workers whose appointments were allegedly wrongfully terminated.

Joe Ajaero, general secretary of NUEE, had pointed to the likelihood of industrial crisis with IKEDC, drawing attention to the sack of the workers and other alleged anti-labour practices in the company.

In solidarity, Igwe Achese, president, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), also threatened on Tuesday to shut down the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) in protest against the sack of the 400 workers.

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.

“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 NGC that is saddled with supply of gas to thermal stations and plants all over the country,” Achese said.

Also yesterday, Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, in a letter to the managing director of IKEDC, said the sack was unacceptable.

“This is totally unacceptable to us as your decision was obviously taken without reasonable justifications, but for the selfish exploitative interest of your management who dwell under the guise of maximising profit not only to exploit consumers but also to deepen poverty by throwing hundreds of your productive employees out of employment at a period we should all be concerned about our country’s growing unemployment rate.

“It is unexpected that a company that was given public funds to operate, after the fraudulent unbundling and privatisation of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, will turn around to extort consumers through tariff increases and go further to sack its employees. This is the highest provocation you have unleashed on us and we have more than enough capacity to respond appropriately.

“Consequently, on behalf of the National Executive Council of the NLC, you must recall all the workers affected by your ill-conceived decision.

“Specifically, if by Monday, 7th day of March 2016, all the affected workers are not recalled, we shall mobilise members of all our 44 affiliates, including our civil society allies and pro people organisations to massively picket your facilities in their various locations. This may be extended to a national action, if you remain obstinate.

“We will not allow you or any employer, private or public, to continue to trample on the fundamental rights of workers, which include right to work,” Wabba said.