Emma Arubi
WARRI-POWER Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers in the Warri business district have embarked on an indefinite strike action that crippled its activities in Warri and environs, calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intervene in their monetization payment.

The workers who embarked on another round of strike over the non-payment of their monetisation vowed not to call it off until their demands were meant.

Armed with placards bearing different inscriptions such as  “EFCC Help us Get our monetization,” “No monetization, no work,” “Government has something to hide in monetization payment,” “Why is management not taking action on the Warri monetization,” advised government to act now and pay their entitlement.

The Benin Zonal Organizing Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Joseph N. Ndem while addressing the striking PHCN workers at the premises of the Warri Business District of PHCN said the action that they have taken was in order.

He said; “We know that you are fighting a just fight. We have come here as people who are also your leaders . There  is no reason  why  they cannot pay your monetisation. We are therefore demanding for EFCC intervention in the matter. If for any reason, they have any record to show that this place has been paid, we want the proof and except that is done, we will not return back to work.”

“We are prepared actually to make sure that as you are taking your destiny in your hands, we also look forward to seeing that your destiny should be achieved. We want to ensure that as your leaders, we cannot abandon you in mid sea; the General Secretary at the national level is going to be informed about your action and we shall all inform you at the appropriate time and within this measure, we want to say that this action is going to continue until further notice when we must have also be satisfied that management and government have also intervened into this matter, then we shall all retreat back to our offices,” he said.

Also speaking, Comrade Benson. O. Okorodudu, the Co-ordinator/Information officer, NUEE for Edo/Delta said “The Federal government claimed that they have paid the sum of #57 Billion into PHCN account to settle the workers, but up to this moment, no single staff of PHCN in Warri here has been paid.

No reason has been given for this; if the government or management at any level has discovered that there are problems somewhere, may be it has to do with some of the workers, it cannot be the entire workforce, certainly it is one person, or two or group of persons; they have a way of sorting that out.

It is on that note that we have left the Zonal meeting we were attending with the C.E.O. in Benin and of course, the Senior Zonal Organising Secretary in charge of this zone, Comrade J.N. Ndem has come with myself and the Delta State Secretary, Taiwo Onovwiona to hear what is happening here and to say that we are in support of whatever that is going on here.”