By Bimbola Oyesola
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to down tools over alleged takeover of Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) and power facilities across the country by commercial banks.
The union in a letter addressed to the Minister of Power, titled ‘Disturbing signals in the power sector-14-day ultimatum’ flayed the take over of DisCos and other power facilities by banks based on perceived defaults to repay loans allegedly borrowed by the distribution firms.
The union said the presence of the banks threatened jobs in the sector and non-payment of salaries and allowances.
The planned workers strike could see Nigerians experiencing total black out for two weeks should government fail to meet the union’s demands at the expiration of the ultimatum.
In the letter signed by its General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, the union called for the exit of the banks, whose presence, he said had been a distraction to the sector.
Ajaero said it does not make both technical and socio-economic sense for the Federal Government to indirectly hand over the operations of electricity companies to banks. He warned that the services of members would no longer be guaranteed after the expiration of 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to apprehend the situation.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Nebeolisa Anako, in a letter responding to the union’s threat, said the involvement of the banks at board level was as a consequence of the ownership and corporate governance of the DisCos.