By Victor AHIUMA-YOUNG

AS the Federal Government and organised labour continue to play the cat and mouse game ahead of planned take-over of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, assets by private sector investors, organized labour  has given conditions that must be met before any take-over can be effected.

Under the auspices of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and its Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, the two unions in the nation’s Power sector, have vowed to shut down the industry and throw the nation into total darkness, if the conditions are not met.

Among the conditions are: payment of 75% pension component of the exit package, regularization of the remaining casual workers already identified and captured biometrically, payment of exit benefits to the retired workers since 2011, transfer of statutory 10% equity shareholding to PHCN workers in successor companies and payment of all outstanding staff claims and allowances.

The unions are also contending that presently, a management contractor has been imposed and operating since 2012 in Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, when settlement of exit benefits is yet to be made to the workers and payment of 2% dues accruable to the union’s as well as asking for payment of short-fall of terminal benefits from July, 2012 till date.

Speaking through its Vice President, Professionals arm, Comrade Gabriel Egbadekwu, expressed dismay by the claim of the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, that 70% percent of PHCN staff had been paid their exit package.

According to him, “Information reaching us revealed that he (minister) has commenced clandestine moves to hand over PHCN facilities or so called successor companies to investors.

We want to state categorically clear here that the claim of the minister is false and is done to mis-inform the public. We are well aware that less than 50% of PHCN workers have so far received part of their exit benefits, while others are yet to receive anything. Furthermore, we want Nigerians of all shades of opinion to be informed that claims made by the minister exhibits total insincerity and falsehood concocted to blackmail the Union. In this regard, any move by Government to handover the companies to the intended investors; will be resisted by the workers, unless all payments (to the last kobo) and other issues are fully resolved.”

“The public should know that before now, agreements have been reached with government on issues and how the process to resolve them should be implemented, starting from June, 2012. However, government has been unwilling or reluctant to drive the process according to agreements reached. Each time, the Union has to react to get government on course and this has not deterred her from implementing the agreement haphazardly. At this stage of implementation, we are amazed at the level of confusion within the industry as to the seriousness of government at driving the process to a logical conclusion for the benefit of Nigerians, investors and the workers.”

Comrade Egbadekwu, declared “we are still awaiting the resolution of the under mentioned issues before we can categorically say the end of the process is near. We demand full payment of 75% pension component of the exit package. Regularization of the remaining casual workers already identified and captured biometrically. Payment of exit benefits to the retired workers since 2011. Transfer of statutory 10% equity shareholding to PHCN workers in successor companies and payment of all outstanding staff claims and allowances.”

“Presently, a management contractor has been imposed and operating since 2012 in Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), when settlement of exit benefits is yet to be made to the workers and payment of 2% dues accruable to the Unions. Payment of short-fall of terminal benefits from July, 2012 till date. We wish to advise all the investors to stay-clear from PHCN properties, and not be deceived by government’s claim that all labour issues have been settled with PHCN workers. A word is enough for the wise.

Corroborating the position of NUEE, SSAEAC, in a statement by its President-General and General Secretary, Bede Opara and Abiodun Ogunsegha, respectively, warned that “delay in payment will equally delay hand-over of PHCN to investors because our Association will stand by the understanding reached with Government that handover will happen only when payments are concluded. We are mobilizing our members to standby, to ensure no investor takes over any plant until payments are concluded.”