Workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have dragged the Attorney-General of the Federation before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the proposed privatization of the government agency.

In a suit filed by 16 plaintiffs through their Legal Counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu on January 7, 2011, the workers are seeking  the determination of four key issues and five declarative reliefs.

The plaintiffs are Mansur Musa, Ishaya Audu, Sam Nwaire, Philip Ali, Shade Omolade Falode, Zaccheaus Olukayode Adu, Sikamta Mshelinga and Issac Abegye. Others include Mbang Ekpo Enang-Ntukubes,H. Aneke, C.C Iyeke, Doris Nnaji, Eferigho Lemmy, Peter Ekong, Babatunde Kayode Giwa, Lami Muhammad.

The plaintiff prayed the court to grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining the AGF restraining the “Defendant whether by himself, privies, agents, subordinates or otherwise howsoever or by whomsoever from privatizing the successor companies to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria or otherwise divesting the shares in those successor companies held on behalf of all Nigerians”.

They also asked the court to grant another injunction restraining the “defendant whether by himself, privies, agents, subordinates or otherwise howsoever or by whomsoever from transferring workers and members of the Plaintiff in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to the successor companies created under section 8 of the same Act without the consent of the workers”.

The court was also urged to issue a declaration that that “generation, transmission, trading, distribution and bulk supply and resale of electricity all of which constitute the power sector of the economy is a major sector of the economy that cannot be validly, legally and lawfully privatized by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Among the questions of determination, the court was urged to determine whether  generation, transmission, trading, distribution and bulk supply and resale of electricity all of which constitute the power sector of the economy is a major sector of the economy.

They urged the court to determine “Whether having regard to sections 13, 16(2) and other sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the binding decisions of the Supreme Court that make it obligatory for the Federal Government of Nigeria to manage and operate the major sectors of the economy, the Defendant can lawfully or validly privatize the successor companies to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria created with the collective wealth of all Nigerians pursuant to section 8 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005”.

Who is who @ Sunmonu’s birthday

THE symposium organised by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC to mark the 70th birthday of its pioneer President, and General Secretary, Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, attracted dignitaries from all walks of life.

Among them were Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Abdulwahhed Omar, General Secretary of NLC, Comrade John Odah, President of SSANU and Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Promise Adewusi, General Secretary of NASU and Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, President of NASU and Vice President of NLC, Comrade Ilya Ladi, General Secretary of  NUTGTWN and Vice President of NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu, President of MHWN and NLC National Treasurer, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, General Secretary of MHWN, Comrade Marcus Omkhale and General Secretary of NUCCEWW, Comrade Babatunde Liadi.

Also in attendance were Chairman of Onigbogo Local Government Area, Comrade Idowu Obasa, Lagos Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, Professor Sola Fajana, Professor Yemi Akinyeye, former President of NLC, Alhaji Ali Ciroma, President of Comrade Steve Osidipe, former President of  ASUU, Dr. Dipo Fashina, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, as well as Ministry of Information and Communications,  Dr. Timi Agari, Secretary-General of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Chief John Kolawole, Deputy Managing Director of Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Kayode Komolafe, President of AUPCTRE, Comrade Emmanuel Njoku, former General Secretary, AUPCTRE, Comrade S.O.Z Ejiofoh Director of International Press Centre, IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, President of FOBTOB, Comrade Babatunde, General Secretary of FOBTOB, Comrade Ola Ade-Joseph, General Secretary of Employees, NUPTE, Comrade Ben Edherue, Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour, Lagos, Mrs. Nofisat Arogundade among others.