BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG
TOTAL blackout is imminent nation wide as workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)  handed down a 14-day ultimatum to government to suspend further action on privatisation of PHCN, until all outstanding labour issues are resolved failing which they would withdraw their service and shut down the sector.

Under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) at a joint briefing, in Lagos, also called for immediate action on the findings of Elumelu’s Committee Report that indicted individuals for mismanagement and  misappropriation of funds allocated to revamp the sector over the years.

This came as the two union demanded for immediate removal of the Minister of State for Power, Mr. Nuhu Waya, over alleged incompetence and ineptitude in the management of the sector.

Leaders of the unions warned that should government fail to address the issues raised at the expiration of the ultimatum which commenced on April 15, 2011, they would not hesitate to direct members to withdraw their services and shut down the sector nationwide.

Briefing journalists  after a joint National Executive Council, NEC meeting of the two unions, President of SSAEAC, Comrade Bede Opara lamented government insincerity with the reforms in the power sector and noted that rather than engage the unions in dialogue, government had been evasive and had resorted to intimidation and blackmail.

The unions are among others things demanding that the management of PHCN  pay up the balance of the negotiated 150 percent salary increase as well as regularize the employment of over 10,000 casual workers in the corporation.

Comrade Opara argued that there was no clear structure in the sector showing who was in-charge even and alleged that government and its agencies had undervalued the asset of PHCN nationwide with the sole aim of flinging them to their cronies and business partners as done to other failed privatized companies.

He said the unions remained opposed to outright privatization of the sector, stressing that “private sector participation alongside the PHCN companies remains the only way to grow the sector on a sustainable basis.

Government should to tell Nigerians what social services it owes the citizenry if electricity service is transferred from public monopoly to private monopoly.

Government’s insensitivity/high handedness is proceeding with processes of privatization without addressing labour issues and arrangements, is an affront to the unions, a negation of workers’ rights and cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. Government’s refusal to honour agreements reached with the workers reinforces that government is insincere, confrontrational, oppressive and contemptuous to the rights of citizens.

Despite the willingness of labour in the sector to enter discussions on the outstanding agreements, the government has been evasive, deceptive and has resorted to blackmail on the pages of Newspapers.”