The current impasse over the takeover of management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, by the Canadian firm, Manitoba Hydro International, has brought into sharper focus the challenge of implementing power reform that would ensure provision of adequate and stable electricity for millions of Nigerian businesses and homes.
Electricity workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have vowed to resist the takeover of power installations by private management interests, and last week took to the streets yet again in protest against the management contract of the TCN.
In a move that speaks to their determination to resist change in the country’s despondent power sector, the unionists had set up blockades, resisting an alleged scheduled inspection visit of the Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji and officials of Manitoba Hydro International to the corporate headquarters of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) which houses TCN in Abuja.
NUEE had alleged that the July 31, 2012 scheduled takeover of TCN management by Manitoba as contained in the three years management contract between the firm and Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) runs contrary to agreements as reached in their series of dialogue with government as overseen by the Hassan Sunmonu-led negotiation panel.
