PHCN Severance Package: Unions, FG To Set Up Panel On Payment

The two industrial unions within the power sector, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Senior Staff of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSEAC) and the Federal Government have agreed to raise panel to implement payment of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN workers benefits within the next three weeks.

The panel, The Tide learnt, has membership draw from the  labour unions in the power sector. The Committee would work with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Auditor General of the Federation to ensure that all due payments are made within the fastest time possible.

The Tide learnt the committee followed the agreement signed on December 11,2013 between Labour and government.

Investigation revealed that the agreement  outlined in broad term, the benefit and entitlements to be paid to PHCN employees. The workers are expected to be disengaged as part of the electricity privatisation process while new plant owners are at liberty to reemploy those they desire.

The panel was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Power Hajia Zainah Kuchi stressed that the ceremony was a landmark one and represented a major fulfillment of one of the critical aspects of the power sector reform.

Kuchi assured the unions that government had sufficient funds to make full and complete payments in line with its previous commitments with Labour.

She commended the show of patriotism and commitment of all stakeholders who have been in the process, particularly NUEE, SSEAC as well as the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Kuchi said the committee would enable all players have full participation as to how various issues, such as determination of procedures for the settlement of all due benefits to all concerned taking into cognizance all existing laws in Nigeria.

She said it was expected that the committee will have the liberty to verify all existing data including biometric capture and ensure authenticity of figures. They will also harmonise any issues that may emanate therefrom or could be related to the subject matter.”

The committee is expected to determine the correct number of PHCN staff affected and obtain their bio-data, determine component of staff entitlements including gratuity pension   repatriation, verify the affected staff with biometrics to ensure that they are the authentic beneficiararies, obtain the 10 digit NUBAN account numbers .

for each of the concerned staff, progress report and states of payments to be presented to the Vice President through the Ministry of Power and address any other related concern of government and the  unions towards amicable conclusion of the matter.

Meanwhile members of the committee were drawn from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Auditor General of the Federation Pension Commission, PHCN, NUEE, SSEAC Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company and Alexander Forbes consulting the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Power is to Chair the committee.55