Nigerians may face another nationwide blackout as electricity workers on Wednesday began an indefinite strike over alleged neglect of staff welfare and unpaid salaries.
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), in a memo signed by its acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, directed members to immediately withdraw their services following what it described as the failure of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to address lingering grievances.
According to the union, the industrial action became inevitable after the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the management of TCN.
The unresolved issues, NUEE said, include non-implementation of the national minimum wage, casualisation of workers, lack of working tools, non-payment of staff salaries since April 2025, absence of operational vehicles, and denial of retirement benefits.
The workers also accused the TCN of failing to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) since 2021 and neglecting unresolved matters arising from the company’s unbundling.
“It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided to handle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-working staff,” the memo read.
“We cannot continue to fold our arms while our rights are being violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is dragged down the drain. To this end, the union is compelled to withdraw its services until management is ready to meet its obligations.”
The strike, which takes immediate effect, is expected to paralyse electricity transmission across the country, heightening fears of a nationwide blackout.
Already, the national grid collapsed Thursday evening, worsening power supply and leaving several states in total darkness.
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