By Ediri Ejoh & Bartholomew Madukwe
Electricity consumers under the network of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company IKEDC, Tuesday called on the government to intervene in the ongoing crisis between the management of the company and labour union to save their businesses from incurring further losses due to lack of power supply.

Labour leaders under the auspice of Electricity Employees Union of Nigeria and its affiliate labour unions have continued barricade of the energy company’s offices since Tuesday.

Some of the residents of Alausa, Egbeda, Agege, Ikorodu, Oke-Odo, Iyano-Ipaja. Ojota, Oregun and Ikeja axis, who spoke with Vanguard, argued that the power situation has gone worse amidst the labour crises.

According to Mr. Obinna Chika, a resident at Ikeja said “We don’t understand the rivalry between the union and Ikeja electric. Because as it stands, power supply has gone from bad to worse within the last three days in this axis.

“We believe that there are better ways of resolving the rift between them order than taking it at the detriment of the general customers at large. It is also believed that the best way for such to be resolve is simply by engaging the Discos in dialogue.”

This was even as businesses, according to our investigation, experienced difficult time following the ongoing labour crises.

The management of Toshine Ventures at Ikeja, Mr Samson Okeke, raise alarm over the deteriorating state in power delivery for the past two days. “We have been subjected to difficult times in the power sector. For the past two days, we have had to contend with poor power supply, whereby hindering our production and increasing our cost.

“Prior to this time, Ikeja districts enjoyed the delivery for up to seven hours to 12 hours in 24 hours a day. With this statistics, we ensure to beat production on time so we could spend less on diesel for the remaining two hours of our working day.

“But the situation has changed as we have spent over N500,000 on diesel to power our generating set. There is need for the organised labour to as a matter of urgency come to a compromise with the authorities of the Ikeja discos before we lose more to diesel in such a time as our economy.

Also, The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Madelson Prints, Dr. Elvenly Marcus maintained that the cost of printing materials has gone up against the Forex challenges in the country, adding that more cost for power it generating set would result to unprecedented disaster in the system.

“I would appeal to both parties to come to a round table and settle these crises before it get bad. Already the cost of getting printing materials is on the high side due to the Forex imbalance in the system.

“We can’t afford more expenses in the system. Since the crises erupted, the amount we have spent is quite alarming to mention and if the crises does not stop, we can’t imagine what will be spent on diesel.

A cold-room owner, Jide Oluwakemi, at Ile-Epo market of Oke-Odo area of Alimosho local government area lamented the negative impact of the strike embarked upon by the electricity works on his business. He told our reporters that he has to continue running generator in order to sustain the business in the last two days.

“Although the electricity situation here was not too impressive but we use to have some six to eight hour supply daily which helps to reduce the cost of running the generators,” he told our reporter.

Similarly, a sawmill operator at the Iyena-Ipaja area lamented that they have not been able to carry-out any meaningful activity in the last two days due to lack of power supply. When told that the reason for the short supply is because the workers are on strike, he describe the workers as being insensitive to the plight of the ordinary Nigerian.

“If they who work for government and earn salary at the end of the month whether they do their job or not decide to punish those of us who depend on the electricity to earn our daily bread what kind of country is this,” he queried.

He noted that the unfortunate thing is that at the end of the day they will still bring electric bills for us to pay.

Meanwhile the management of Ikeja Disco explained that the continued barricade of its promise by the labour union is hampering serve delivering to its esteemed customers. While urging the union leaders to consider the economic implication of its actions on the people, the management stated that the welfare of its workforce is of paramount importance.

In a statement the management stated that only way it can achieve customer service excellence is through a robust human capital, hence the employment of 603 new employees to boost the driving of the system.

However, a source at the management level said, “The negative implication of the present protest by the Nigerian labour Unions due to the relief of some staff is that the socio-economic activities of our valued customers will be paralysed because all faults cannot be attended to which will definitely lead to total darkness in most areas in Ikeja Electric’s network.”

“Our linesmen are not having access to equipment and vehicles to clear faults since the unions has barricaded entrance to offices in both Headquarters, Business Units and Undertakings.”

“Most customers are now left with generators to operate their businesses which are very expensive apart from the associated hazards, especially fire outbreak and damages to their equipment,” he added.

Speaking on how it will affect the Disco’s business he said, “Most customers would not be able to recharge for electricity especially the prepaid customers who cannot have access to electricity without reloading their meters with credit.”

“The company depend only on revenue generated to carry out maintenance in the system and pay salaries to worker every month.”

“We are still battling with the challenges on how to rehabilitate and replace most dilapidated equipment in the system to ensure service excellence to our customers. We are also training staff on daily basis to ensure compliance with modern trends of carrying out the jobs.”