Traditional rulers from Gombe State, during the inauguration of Bank of Industry Zonal Office in Gombe recently.

The factional Chairman of
the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Comrade Adah Williams, has raised fear of possible strike by workers over the disagreement between the management of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) and its staff.
Williams who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt recently said the management of the company was not showing interest in obeying the decision of the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) that was looking into the dispute.
He said that attempt to get the management of PHED to adhere to the IAP decision on the issue was not fruitful as the firm was reneging on its earlier promise to comply. It would be recalled that a recent strike was embarked upon by NLC over the issue when PHED management and the labour leaders agreed to suspend the industrial action while negotiations continued.
This agreement which was apparently taken in the interest of the masses who were suffering the total blackout that resulted from the strike.
In his reaction, PHED’s manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Jona Iboma, said no decision IAP was binding on the firm.
Some residents of Port Harcourt had expressed the fear of possible blackout as the electricity workers might resume the strike action.
Some of the residents who reacted on the issue pleaded for a peaceful resolution of the matter to avoid resumption of strike by workers.
PHED workers had accused the management of anti-unionism, slave labour and indiscrimate sack and demanded recall of some sacked workers, amongst other conditions.
The situation affected electricity consumers in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Cross River, being the four states under PHED’s business coverage.

Chris Oluoh