…TCN denies responsibility
Electricity workers across Nigeria have shut down the National Grid, leading to a nationwide blackout.
Recall that the strike was called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in protest of the assault on Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC, on November 1, 2023, in Imo State, despite a court order restraining the unions from doing so.
Reacting to the development, the Presidency, in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said strike action by unions was a flagrant disobedience to court order and a lack of respect for the Judiciary.
Accordingly, the Government expressed displeasure that the nation’s economy and social activities should not suffer because of the personal interest of any labour leader.
However, in a swift reaction, the Spokesperson for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Ndidi Mbah, confirmed the strike yesterday, but debunked a publication alleging that its Head of Public Affairs said that there will be a national blackout, describing it as false and totally misleading.
Mbah clarified that electricity workers, members of the National Union of Electricity Employees, (NUEE), followed directives of the NLC to withdraw their services around 11:20 am on Monday.
She said, “Electricity workers are NLC members; they’ve followed the directive by organised labour to withdraw their services from Tuesday”.
