Workers under the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have threatened to shut down the national grid, plunging the nation into darkness if the federal government doesn’t meet its demands.
Zonal Organising Secretary, North-West Chapter of the NUEE, Comrade Dukat Ayuba, issued the threat on Thursday, September 22, 2022, in a press conference in Kaduna State.
The Quest Times reports that electricity workers had earlier downed tools on August 17, 2022, but suspended its strike following an intervention by the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, where the union promised to shut down the grid if their demands are not met in two weeks.
ALSO READ: PDP CRISIS: I am not weak, will not run from fight – Wike
Speaking after the expiration of the two-week period without their demands being met, Comrade Ayuba lamented that the privatization of the electricity industry was a scam, as there is nothing to show for it 9 years after.
According to him, “That was why we kicked against privatizing the distribution sector because the investors don’t have the capacity and expertise. As committed Nigerians, we advised the government against it. But the government was hell-bent on doing so.
ALSO READ: 2023: ‘Dont sell your votes’, Abdusalami begs Nigerians
“The investors are still operating with obsolete equipment dating back to 35, 40, and 50 years. One will expect that with the coming of the investors they will replace this obsolete equipment but nothing has been done.”
According to Dukat, Nigeria still generates 5,000 megawatts of electricity, stating that “it’s the same 5,000 megawatts we used to generate. So what is the benefit of privatization?
“We now generate megawatts with higher tariffs. Bringing hardships to the homes of millions of Nigerians. This will only happen in Nigeria,” he stressed.