Abuja, Nigeria – E be like say we fit enter one serious blackout wahala as electricity workers don declare their intention to stop work. Na the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) carry this news come. Dem don dey reason say the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) no gree fulfill dem demands after dem shelved one strike last November 2024.
As dem dey talk now, AEDC dey supply light to people for places like Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi states. And this matter dey serious because na millions of people wey go dey affected by this planned strike (Abeg, nobody want no light again!).
In letters wey dem send to the AEDC Managing Director, Wey be Christopher Ezeafulukwe, NUEE and SSAEAC tell am straight say e do better to pay workers wetin dem dey owe dem. Dem list about 13 demands wey include no payment of pension deductions for 16 months and no implementation of the National Minimum Wage wey dey wait people’s pockets for more than seven months now (like dem dey hide am).
Na wetin dem dey vex about? Dem talk say this matter no just end there. Dem dey complain about promotion wey no happen since 2013, non-confirmation of staff wey dey act, and even health services wey don collapse because dem no dey pay hospital bills for staff. As per the union, dis kind stress don kill some of dem members due to work pressure. Shey na only dem dey pay for all this wahala? No way!
Dem no dey joke o! Dem wan resume the strike anytime from now. One of the letters wey NUEE Assistant General Secretary, Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon sign, talk say dem fit start mobilization soon, and e go affect everywhere wey AEDC dey serve – from Kogi to Nasarawa, Niger, and FCT.
Since late last year, dem been get agreement wey na di reason dem put the strike on hold before, but e look like say AEDC just dey act like dem no sabi. Di union don impress upon dem say if dem no do wetin dey necessary, dem go start the fight again until everything wey dem demand get sorted out (Omo, e go reach light matter!).
Dese workers don gather plenty revenue, about N94 billion just within the last three months alone. And dem dey even struggle to do all dat wif poor working conditions and no proper support. Ain’t nobody got light for nothing, abi wetin dem expect? Dey fit shout ‘no light’ if no be dem? (E go sweet if everybody join shout!).
As di tension dey rise, both unions get serious wahala for dem hands and if AEDC no take action sharp-sharp, e fit disrupt light supply completely across di franchise areas (Abeg, make una shine ur eye!). We dey watch as story dey unfold – how dem go fit come out of this one? We go dey on ground to carry una the gist, no worry, just hold tight for palm wine and dey chill!
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