Former FCCPC CEO opposes organised labour over power supply disruption 

By Opeyemi Abdulsalam

The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Mr Babatunde Irukera, has kicked against shutting down the national grid by the organised labour.

Babatunde Irukera said it should be an exception. He said this in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday while responding to labour unions for defending the shutdown of the national grid.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared an indefinite strike over the federal government’s refusal to increase the minimum wage.

Kicking off on Monday with total compliance by all relevant government institutions across the country, the strike led to the shutdown of essential services, including schools, hospitals, airports operations, and electricity supply.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said the labour unions shut down the national grid, resulting in a blackout nationwide.

Reacting to the act, Irukera said the labour unions’ strike is also causing hardship even for the workers embarking on the industrial action.

“I recognize the vital issues union leaders are articulating, & fighting for,” he said.

“Work has stopped,workers are home with kids in extreme heat & discomfort & workers will get an outrageous estimated bill from DisCos for power supplied & not consumed. The grid should be an exception.”