The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has restored power after it embarked on strike in the early hours of Wednesday.
But the suspension of the industrial action and the consequential power outage across the country will last only two weeks, according to the union.
NUEE resolved to hold back the action following the mediation of the team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Nigige later on Wednesday in Abuja.
Confirming the development to TheCable on Wednesday night, NUEE General Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero said power supply would be restored immediately.
“The strike has been suspended for two weeks. From this night, there will be power supply”, he said.
Electricity workers had planned to embarked on a nationwide strike to protest the non-payment of outstanding arrears owed to former workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, the suspension of conditions of service, career path for workers, among others.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) appealed to the workers to suspend the proposed strike, assuring that steps had been taken to resolve the issues, as it confirmed the shutdown of national electric power by the electric workers.
Consequently, Ngige invited the striking electricity workers for an emergency meeting for negotiations.
The Minister said that after exhaustive deliberations on the issues in dispute, the parties agreed to constitute a bipartite committee to look into the grievances of the electricity workers and report back in two weeks.
The President General, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Workers, Comrade Chike Ben thanked Ngige and the Minister of State for Power, Mr Mohammad Notezai for “their maturity in handling the issues that we brought up.
“These issues should have been tackled earlier on if there was a rightful communication with all parties. But well, as we have said, we will be giving two weeks to which to report back to the full house and we assure the nation that such crisis will be nipped in the bud before it escalates”, he said.
Source: TheCable
