NUEE Rejects Transfer Of PHCN Workers

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has rejected the transfer of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers to its successor companies, describing such transfer as “forceful” by the federal Government.

According to the solicitor of the Union, Bamidele Aturu, the Union considered such transfer as against the consent of the affected employees as required by law.

The statement added that the Union has filed a suit at the Federal High Court claiming among other reliefs that section 10 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 is unconstitutional unlawful , illegal, null and void, stressing that the Privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is unconstitutional.

The Union emphasized that the transfer of PHCN workers as members of  the Union run contrary to section 10 of the Labour Act, noting that the Federal Ministry of Power should comply with the extant Labour Law.

The Union called upon the Federal Government to desist from such forceful act of transfer of workers to avoid any industrial disharmony and crisis in the Power sector.

Meanwhile, the management of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is set to confirm the appointment of over 12,000 casual workers in its establishment.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, while meeting with the Industrial Unions within the Power Sector, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) officials.

He said the exercise would be carried out after biometric verification exercise to identify the authentic  casual workers in PHCN.