Comrade Joe Ajaero, General Secretary, NUEE
-By Divine-Favour Efemena
The Nigerian power sector could be referred to as an odyssey with many life long experiences which have defied solutions to its problems. Ever since the sector has been privatised, it has been difficult to fix by various successive governments owing to its burgeoning issues.
The journey began when some of the Generating Companies (GenCos) were privatised while the government retain a few and the transmission component completely under its control known as Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The Distribution Companies (DisCos) were completely sold to private investors while the government retained 40%. Under the contractual agreement, after five years the government should meet with the DisCos to take stock of their performances and if they fall short below standard the government has right to takeover or possibly seeks for new investors.
The issue is, if the government will takeover DisCos, it has to refund money and return investment back to investors which runs into billions of naira. Recently, the Senate President Ahmed Lawan wade into the privatisation process of power referring to it as fraudulent and called the government attention to it. Lawan wanted the privatisation process to be reversed and the government looking for another way out.
Looking at a review on power one of the issues bothering DisCos and GenCos is tariff. The DisCos claimed it is over due and stated that electricity tariff in the country is rather low for them to meet their objectives. But most Nigerians are perturbed because tariff could only be increased if there is effective supply of power. Nigerians resort to self-generation of power by running generators across the country hence increasing tariff may not be a welcome idea. If the DisCos supply power it could attract payment from the consumers provided power transcends the country with optimum capacity.
In a sad development, Nigeria was shut down as electricity workers went on strike through its union, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE). Nigerians groan in darkness as electricity supply was disrupted as workers down tools.
The strike by the union is an issue that started even before privatisation, they claimed that thorough job was not done before 2013. Another issue is refusal of Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) to pay over 2000 disengaged staff after privatisation exercise. The workers have not been paid. There are issues of illegal transfer of union property to investors including underpayment of staff and casualisation. Those working in GenCos do not have condition of service or terms of agreement. Some are restricted from joining union or involving in its matters.
NUEE accused National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and DisCos of intimidation. Some of the electricity workers are on half salary. The issues cut across the Gencos and DisCos each having its own challenges.
However, the strike has been suspended but NUEE threatened if the situation is not nipped in the bud including its grievances solved, the strike will resume.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made it known that a time frame has been given to the government and if the union’s conditions are not resolved or met the strike might resurface. Three months ultimatum has been given to the government to put to rest these issues bothering the power sector.
The country still awaits how these issues will be resolved between NUEE and the government, as the ultimatum might just be another keg of gun powder that may soon explode if both parties could not agree on terms for resolving the crisis.
Comment here