NATIONAL Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has accused the Power Ministry and the management of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, of employing cronies as staff of the electricity company, even as more than 10 casual workers who have put in not less than 10 years, have not been engaged.

NUEE in a resolution at the end of its 4th Quadrennial/9th National Delegates conference in Benin city, Edo State, expressed shocked that the Ministry, which claimed that PHCN was over staffed could connive with the management to employ their social/personal aides.

The resolution issued by comrades Mansur Musa and Joe Ajaero, President and General Secretary of NUEE, respectively, read in part; “The conference in-session regrets the inability of PHCN Corporate Management to honour and implement agreements voluntarily entered into with labour Unions in the sector, as well as lamenting the docile nature of the MD/CEO. It therefore calls on management to as a matter of urgency conclude some isolated cases on monetization and biometrics.

“That Management should faithfully implement all outstanding issues agreed upon especially, the payment of 50% salary increase along with monthly salaries and the three months arrears on or before 20th December, 2011 as agreed and signed with Government/PHCN Labour Unions.”

It is not certain if this was met and labour has not given any update in this regard.