Nationwide Blackout Looms as Electricity Workers Begin Strike
Nigeria may face power outages in the coming days as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has embarked on an indefinite strike over unresolved labour issues.
The union announced the industrial action in a notice signed by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, on Wednesday. According to NUEE, the strike became necessary following the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) over the non-implementation of the national minimum wage, casualisation of workers, and other outstanding demands.
The statement accused TCN’s management of neglecting workers’ welfare and failing to address their grievances.
“It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided to handle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-working staff of TCN. We cannot continue to fold our arms while our rights are being violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) goes down the drain,” the notice read.
The union has therefore directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services until management demonstrates readiness to meet its obligations.
This is not the first time NUEE has downed tools. In June 2024, a similar strike action disrupted electricity supply across the country.
As of press time, TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah had not responded to media inquiries regarding the development.
Full text of the NUEE strike notice:
A CALL TO ACTION
Following the expiration of the Union’s ultimatum to TCN Management over some staff welfare and operational issues, which include:
1. Non-implementation of National Minimum Wage
2. Casualisation of Workers
3. Non-provision of working tools and materials 4. Non-payment of staff salaries since April 2025
5. Lack of Operational Vehicles
6. Non-provision of PPEs since 2021
7. Issues arising from the unbundling of TCN
8. Non-payment of retirement benefits
It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided to handle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-working staff of TCN. This, they have displayed without any defined road map(s) to addressing them.
We cannot continue to fold our arms while we watch our rights being vehemently violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) going down the drain. To this end, the Union is compelled to withdraw its services.
Members are hereby directed to withdraw services until such time that the management is ready to discharge its obligations towards the workforce.
This directive takes immediate effect and requires total compliance.