The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) was criticised by industry experts for shutting down the National Grid on August 16 and 17 in order to press their demands at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
Experts claimed that the union's purposeful plan to shut down the national grid and even create viral films while doing so is dangerous and poses a danger to both national security and people's livelihoods.
Engr Oluwole Kayode, a specialist in electrical infrastructure, asserted that no country can permit such a violation of labour regulations to take place without repercussions and that the unions have selected the incorrect channel for airing their complaints.
“What happened between Tuesday and Wednesday is unacceptable. The electricity workers union must change its ways and stay clear of tempering with crucial national infrastructure like the national grid from being used to labour politics,” he said
Kayode also called on the Federal Government to prosecute all those found to have played a role in shutting down the national grid and make sure that they face justice through fair trial.
An electricity consultant, Malam Mustapha Kamal, noted that the National Assembly must rise to the occasion and change Nigeria’s labour law to ensure that incidents like shutting down the national grid must not be used as a means of labour bargain. He pointed out that because of the impact of electricity on healthcare, security and well being, it must be exempted from any forms of strikes.
“The National Union of Electricity Employees has committed what can best be described as economic sabotage. What happened is dangerous and must not happen again.”
Nigerians have taken to social media knowing the electricity workers union for switching off the nation’s power system i pursuit of what some described as human resource issues that can be addressed without making all Nigerians to pay for it, by plunging the nations into darkness.
The NUEE, in a notice signed by its General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, directed its members to stop work over issues of promotion interview and entitlements of former PHCN workers.