Electricity Workers Threaten Strike

Barring any change in stance, Nigeria may soon be thrown into darkness should electricity workers, on the platform of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, make good of threats to join the impending nationwide strike.

FINANCAL WATCH learnt The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday said loading of products, including aviation fuel, would stop from today as affiliates of United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, begin an indefinite strike.

The industrial action is fresh move by the United Labor Congress, ULC, a union that seeks to act as umbrella for both NLC and TUC. However, leaders of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Employees, NUBIFIE, said members may not effectively join the strike today because the union just concluded its delegates conference weekend, warning, however, that members would fully join should the strike persist.

But the Nigerian Labor Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, insisted yesterday that the ULC was fake, since it was not recognized by government, and urged Nigerians to ignore the group.

Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Labour also held on to its earlier position that the ULC was not recognized by the Federal Government.

The Presidency, through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said last night that the Presidency stands by the Labour Minister’s position that the ULC is not recognized by the Federal Government.