Makurdi
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Benue State chapter, has shut down the offices of Jos Electricity Distribution, JED Plc across the state in protest against the recent hike in electricity tariffs.
The state chairman, Comrade Terungwa Igbe, who led the union members across JED offices in the state on Monday, locked up the offices forcing the staff to vacate the premises.
Igbe said the action was in compliance with the national directive of the union over the hardship faced by Nigerians due to the incessant increase of electricity tariff.
The NLC chairman who noted that the tariff hike is unacceptable said they are demanding a reversal with immediate effect to enable Nigerians to breathe.
Igbe said “We went to all JED offices today and closed them down. We locked up all the offices and addressed the workers. It is a national directive.
“The message was that the hike in tariff should be reversed.”
He stated the offices will remain closed for now until the national body directs otherwise.
Reacting to the development, the Head of Corporate Communications, JED Plc, Dr Friday Adakole Elijah, appealed to the unions to allow their workers to do their job as they are rendering essential services.
According to him the incident has crippled official work in the company.
Elijah said “It is true that the NLC in conjunction with TUC infiltrated our offices and they never allowed any of our staff to enter into his or her offices. Our official work was completely crippled, we didn’t do anything.
“We will appeal to the unions to allow us do our job because we are on essential duties. If at the end of the day we couldn’t, it will become more problematic because it will definitely affect not only the social life but also the economy of the state negatively.”
Elijah noted, “When problems arise and we are unable to attend to them because of this picketing, it will not help us.
“So we appeal to them to allow the essential workers managing some critical segments of the company to do their work”, he added.
Jos
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday picket the headquarters of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) along Ahmadu Way in the metropolis.
The sealing of office was carried out by Plateau chapter of NLC and TUC officials in compliance with the directive of the Organised Labour over the hike in Electricity Tariff.
Our correspondent observed that workers of the electricity company were locked out by an enforcement team as early as 6:30 am.
Confirming the action to newsmen, Jos Disco spokesman Dr. Friday Elijah said” the office of JED has been picketed.
We were locked out when we came to the office. It has been sealed, nobody is allowed to enter, even myself (the spokesman) and the chief security officer also outside.
All of us came this morning for work, we were locked out. The office has been picketed and sealed.
The chairman of Plateau chapter of NLC, Comrade Eugene Manji said the place has been picketed and sealed in compliance with the directive of our National headquarters.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Councils of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress have picketed offices of Electricity Supply Company Disco, Transmission Company in Nigeria (TCN) and National Electricity Regulatory Company (NERC) to protest the recent increase in the tariff of electricity by the Federal Government and the introduction of bands.
The Labour leaders in Bauchi stormed these offices as early as possible on Monday morning at the entrance of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (Jos Disco) covering the four franchise states of Bauchi, Benue, Plateau and Gombe where they shut down the offices of TCN and NERC.
Speaking to Journalists on Monday, Comrade Dauda Shuaibu NLC Chairman in the State explained that the Union’s SWC held a meeting in Abuja on 30th April and wrote to the Discos to make an immediate reversal of the new tariff but to no avail.
“Also, the joint NEC of the NLC and TUC wrote the same to them to reverse and we issued a letter of which we are expecting them to reverse. Their failure to reverse it is the result of what we are implementing here this morning and across the nation.
Also speaking, TUC State Chairman Comrade Sabiu Barau Ningi, said it’s a clarion call for all Nigerians to stand resolutely as they have started this struggle and there is no going back until the new tariff of electricity is reversed to ease difficulties of common man.
“We know how we are suffering and everyone knows that Nigerians are facing hard times. Even with the increase, the supply is not there. Therefore we are calling on the Federal Government to immediately reverse it. Otherwise there is no going back, we will shut down the whole electricity supply system in this country,” he said.
The union members were seen holding placards with inscriptions like: “NLC/TUC Says No To Exploitation”, “No Segregation in Power Supply”, “No More Band A, B or even Z”.
The picketing exercise was conducted peacefully under the watchful eyes of massive security personnel.
Benin
The organised labour on Monday occupied the head office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, PLc over a hike in electricity tariff.
The organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, picketed the head office of the distribution company, insisting that they will not leave the office until the tariff is reduced to its old rate.
Speaking with journalists at the front of the office, Edo State NLC chairman, Comrade Odion Olaye, said members of the organised labour woke up as early as 6: am to shut the office as directed by the national body of labour.
Olaye said what the NLC is demanding from the National Electrity Regulating Commission, NERC, and the DisCos is to revert the rate to 65 per kilowatt, insisting that they will not retreat until the price is reverted.
He added that a directive was also given by the National body to shut the regulating body of electricity that is NERC.
Reacting to the picketing, the Ag. Head, Corporate Communications of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Mrs Evelyn Gbiwen, said BEDC acknowledges the picketing action taken by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) at our facilities today.
“The safety and well-being of our employees and customers is our top priority. To ensure everyone’s safety and prevent any damage to critical infrastructure, BEDC has directed its workforce to work remotely today.
She added that, “BEDC is actively engaging with all stakeholders to resolve this issue promptly and resume delivering reliable service to our esteemed customers.”
Ibadan
Members of the organized labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and other unions on Monday took their protest to the headquarters of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC in Ibadan.
The protest was staged by the unions over the hike in electricity tariff.
The yesterday’s protest was led by NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Kayode Martins.
The protesters in their hundred stormed the IBEDC office at Ring Road and expressed their grievances.e
The protesters carried various placards with different inscriptions such as “Nigeria Workers and people reject the increase in electricity tariff” and “astronomical increase in electricity tariff is not acceptable”.
Martins, who spoke on behalf of other protesters, explained that the protest would continue until the increment is reversed.
The labour leader added that the electricity tariff hike had brought more hardship to the masses, saying the increment in tariff would not be accepted by Nigerian workers in any form.
