The employees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have warned the federal government against handing over the assets of PHCN to private investors without the payment of workers entitlements.
Protesting under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), the union threatened to shut down all power installations across the country should the investors go ahead to take over the company without first settling all their severance packages and other entitlements.
The angry workers, who protested at the Kaduna electricity distribution company zonal headquarters and along some major streets in the state capital, insisted that no amount of intimidation by the government or security agencies will stop them from demanding for their rights.
The union through its national vice president, Sikanta Ali, criticized vice president Namadi Sambo who is also chairman of the National Council on Privatization for his statement that terminal benefits of all PHCN workers across the country have been fully paid, the union’s vice Mr. Sikanta pointed out that no single kobo has been paid to the workers in the zone.
Armed policemen, soldiers and civil defence operatives were deployed to the Kaduna zonal headquarters and all PHCN offices and installations in the state to avert a possible disruption of activities by the angry workers.
There were also skeletal services as workers locked most of the offices in order to participate in the protest.
Meanwhile the PHCN workers in Osun state today joined their counterparts across the country to protest the non- payment of 75% pension component of the exit package.
They say the claim by the minister of Power professor Chinedu Nebo that 70% of the PHCN staff have been paid their exit packageis untrue.
Speaking to Channels Television in Osogbo,the state capital, vice president of the Osogbo region of senior staff Association Of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC),comrade Olaniyi Gbadebo said contrary to the statement of the federal government that all power sector Labour matters has been resolved ,retired workers since 2011 are yet to get their exit benefits.
According to them, other demands required by the PHCN also include payment of 2% dues accruable, regularization of the remaining casual workers already identified and captured biometrically and transfer of statutory 10% equity shareholding to PHCN workers in successor companies among other demands.
Also Staffers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Ondo State under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have staged a peaceful protest in Akure, Ondo State.
The workers are protesting the handing over of PHCN by the federal government of Nigeria to private investors without settling their entitlements.
The PHCN workers warn that the private investors should steer clear of the company’s installations for now until the federal government settles them so as to avoid their wrath.
In Yobe state, the Chairman of the PHCN workers for Yobe and Borno states Mohammed Abubakar while speaking on the situation of the protest in the two states says because of the security situation in the two states, the workers have decided to stay at home while offices remained closed pending the resolution of the conflict.
He reveals that so far, only 30 per cent of the workforce has benefited from the severity allowance and stated that the union will ensure that all the members benefit before the federal government can go on with privatising the PHCN.
He expressed sadness that of All the states of the federation, Yobe has the least in terms of voltage supply to its consumers as the federal government has failed to provide the needed security for the completion of the power project that will provide the needed supply in the state.
Abubakar says the offices in the two states will continue to remain closed until a directive is given from the headquarters of the Association.