By Peter Duru
No fewer than 10,000 casual workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN have been denied regular employment by the Federal Government for over seven years.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Vice Chairman, Comrade Mathew Agbaka disclosed this during a peaceful protest in Makurdi.

Comrade Agbaka who regretted the attitude of government to workers of the company described the situation as “slavery of the highest order”, adding “it is inhuman”.

On the privatization policy of the Federal Government, he argued that government is rather too hasty in wanting to privatize PHCN, stressing that attention should instead be shifted towards increasing electricity capacity as is the case in advanced nations.

Comrade Agbaka recalled that FG is yet to fully honour the 2008 agreement with the union to increase the pay package of PHCN workers by 150%.

He said, “FG has implemented only 13%. Though power situation in the country has improved greatly, they are still dilly-dallying on the agreement”, he noted.

In his remarks, the State Secretary of NUEE Comrade David Zege lamented the directive from the Inspector General of Police stopping the PHCN workers from holding a peaceful march round the town.

“This is meant to be a peaceful protest. We have the freedom to express our views in a democratic setting. Why are they denying us our right”, he questioned.

Comrade Zege frowned at the attempt by government to privatize PCHN, maintaining that government has failed to put in place necessary measures to ensure privatization of the power sector.