Again, NUEE threatens to shut down national grid

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has again threatened to shut down the national grid.

According to the electricity employees, the two-week given to the Federal Government to resolve the crisis had elapsed.

Comrade Dukat Ayuba, the zonal organizing secretary, North West of NUEE, while briefing newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday, explained that while negotiation was still on-going, the shutdown of the national grid was imminent.

According to him, the so-called privatization of the sector was a scam, explaining that nine (9) years after, nothing had changed to improve its activities, especially to the consumers of electricity.

He added, “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 government against it. But the government was hell bent on doing so.”

He noted that the investors were still operating with obsolete equipment dating back to 35, 40, and 50 years, stating that one would expect that with the coming of the investors, they would replace the obsolete equipment but nothing had been done.

He regretted that the nation still generates 5,000 megawatts of electricity, saying that it is the same 5,000 megawatts that they used to generate, with no benefit from privatization.

He added that the company now generates megawatts with higher tariffs, bringing hardships to the homes of millions of Nigerians and that is what all Nigerians are experiencing at the moment.

Wisdom Nwachukwu, a member of Central Executive Committee, noted that the federal government now wants to sell the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

He stated that they were going behind meeting with some stakeholders and that they would not allow that, as they were patriotic Nigerians that want the best for the country.

Ado Gaya, the Vice President, North West, NUEE, while elaborating further, revealed that the 16 months demanded by the electricity workers is their legitimate earnings which involved 55,000 workers.

He explained that nine years after, the workers have not received a dime, regretting that many of the workers had died, while those who were laid off were suffering with their families receiving nothing to help them make a living.