The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to shut down the national grid again if the Federal Government does not meet its demands quickly.
The Federal Government was previously given two weeks to settle the problem, and according to the electricity workers, that time has passed.
On Thursday, September 22, Comrade Dukat Ayuba, the zonal organizing secretary for NUEE’s North West region, briefed reporters in Kaduna, stating that although discussions were still ongoing, the national grid would soon be shut down.
He claimed that the sector’s supposed privatization was a fraud. He explained that nine years later, nothing has improved in the organization’s operations, especially for electricity consumers.
“That was why we kicked against privatizing the distribution sector because the investors don’t have the capacity and expertise. As committed Nigerians, we advised the government against it. But the government was hell-bent on doing so”, he said.
“The investors are still operating with obsolete equipment dating back to 35, 40, and 50 years. One will expect that with the coming of the investors they will replace this obsolete equipment but nothing has been done.”
He expressed regret that the country continues to generate 5,000 megawatts of power, claiming that it is the same 5,000 megawatts that they previously generated, with no improvement from privatization.
“We now generate megawatts with higher tariffs. Bringing hardships to the homes of millions of Nigerians. This will only happen in Nigeria”, he said.
The federal government now intends to sell the Transmission Company of Nigeria, according to Wisdom Nwachukwu, a Central Executive Committee member (TCN).
“They are going behind meeting with some stakeholders. We are watching them. We will not allow that. We are patriotic Nigerians who want the best for our country,” he said.
