Abuja, Kogi, Niger in total darkness as TCN halts transmission over AEDC workers’ strike
Story from Abah ADAH, Ibraheem HAMZA
There are strong indications that parts of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Niger States among others may be experiencing power outages henceforth following the industrial action embarked upon by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) chapter, on Monday.
In a statement signed and issued on Monday by the General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Ndidi Mbah, the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced the suspension of bulk power delivery to the distribution load centres of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for onward distribution to its customers following a shutdown of the distribution company’s facilities by its in-house workers’ union that has disrupted power evacuation from injection substations across AEDC franchise area.
The areas under AEDC franchise include Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi States as well as parts of Edo and Kaduna States.
TCN said even though it has available bulk power for delivery to the distribution load centres of the AEDC to offtake for its customers, it could not deliver because “power evacuation from injection substations across AEDC franchise area has been disrupted following a shutdown of the AEDC facilities by its in-house workers’ union”.
While regretting the disruption and any inconveniences thereat, TCN assured Nigerians that “normal bulk power delivery to AEDC will be restored as soon as the injection substations are opened for onward electricity supply to consumers”.
READ ALSO: AEDC staff bags 6 months in jail for illegal disconnection of electricity
Meanwhile, confirming the industrial action in a statement signed by its spokesman, Oyebode Fadipe, AEDC said, “power supply to some of our areas of operation, especially those on the 11kV network, may be affected. “
The distribution company (DISCO) apologised to her customers for the inconveniences while assuring them that all hands are on deck at AEDC to resolve the issues that prompted the action.
Neptune Prime also learnt that the industrial action by the members of staff of the company in Niger State North Central Nigeria has shut down power supply across the state in a protest for poor remuneration.
Chairman of the Niger State Chapter of Electricity Employers Union, ( NEEU ), Mr Sunday Machinga, said the industrial action was a result of the Management refusal to act on the demands of Staff in the company.
“We are fighting for the deduction of our pension which has not been remitted to the source for months, other deductions of the Union, non-increment of salary, lack of promotions since the inception of the Company, in addition to lack of adequate working tools”. added Machinga
Comrade Muazu Ibrahim, the Vice Chairman of the Niger State Chapter of the Union further added that the action which is indefinite would continue if the management are not ready to settle workers’ demands.
On the effect of the strike action, Mr Adeleke Odusoya a small scale businessman in Minna the Niger State Capital lamented how the power shortage would cripple his printing business activities if power is not restored on time.
READ ALSO: Assailants stab AEDC official to death while disconnecting light, one other injured
“This type of strike will always affect the final consumer, it’s uncalled for as an entrepreneur, I know what I’m saying. the employers should do the needful for the power service to be restored. added Adeleke.
Also, Lawal Sulaiman who is an electronic technician in Minna also says”I came to lodge a complaint on my prepaid meter which was just installed yesterday, and nobody to attend to me as the main gate was locked down.
Abuja Electricity distribution company AEDC is one of the 11 power distribution companies that was privatized and handed over to Kanna utility Limited in 2013 with 60 percent equity holder and has a franchise for the distribution and sale of electricity across an area of 133,000 km2 in the Federal Capital Territory, Niger State, Kogi State and Nassarawa State in North Central Nigeria.
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