Unions Demand Power Sector Act, Privatisation Review

The organised labour
union in the power sector, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and their senior staff counterpart, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAENC), have called for the review of the power sector Act 2005, to save the sector from imminent collapse.
The unions in a joint statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday, said the power sector Act 2005, was substantially replication of laws from other climes without proper adaptation to the reality of the country.
The unions disclosed that power sector Act was flawed and the privatization process fallered stressing that the amendment to the power sector Act and strict regulations are critical to the success of the power sector.
The unions argued that the Act was inspired and motivated by private interests rather than the general interest of Nigerians and service delivery.
On the issue of privatization of the power sector, the unions said most power stations were aged and lacked necessary maintenance with new technology introduced by the new investors without a viable plan on energy source.
They said the generation capacity of privatized power plants are grossly inadequate given the increasing population and demand.
The unions maintained that transmission infrastructure are poorly maintained, aged and underfunded, resulting in low workers’ morale and corruption within the system.
They  said that one and a half years after privatization, the new investors in the nation’s power sector have not made a marked difference from the previous prevailing system that gave rise to privatization of the sector.
The unions said as stakeholders in the power sector, they have the responsiblility to proffer solutions to the  prevailing situation within the power sector.
The unions therefore demand for a comprehensive review of the power sector Act and the privatization process as a necessary process of putting the sector on an improved scale.