BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

ABUJA—ORGANISED Labour in the power industry yesterday alleged that it had uncovered plots by the Federal Government to handover assets of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to private investors without paying workers’ benefits.

Consequently, it threatened to shut down the industry should the government go ahead to do so.

Labour, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, urged Nigerians to hold the government responsible for the looming turmoil in the sector and advised the investors not to fall into the trap set up by the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE and government.

According to NUEE, government has not been able to conclusively clear the outstanding huddles in relation to outstanding labour issues with the workers.

In a statement signed by General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, the union warned that should the investors go ahead to take over on paper without allowing the BPE and government to conclusively sort out the outstanding labour issues with the workers, it would be assumed that they (investors) had equally accepted to pay outstanding labour liabilities.

The statement reads in part: “It has come to our notice that the Federal Government through the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, has resolved to throw the Power Sector into turmoil by secretly handing over the Sector on paper.
“We are also aware that all the Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, of the supposed unbundled companies of PHCN have been called to Abuja and directed to bring their Letter- Headed Papers with a view to signing off on paper in favour of the Investors.

“However, we wish to advise the Investors not to fall into the trap set up by the BPE and Government who were not able to conclusively clear the outstanding huddles in relation to outstanding labour issues with the workers.
“Should the Investors go ahead to take over on paper