Electricity workers threatens national shutdown of power supply over arrest of NLC president Ajaero

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), which represents the electricity industry, has instructed its members to stop providing services across the country by Thursday at midnight.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, was allegedly arrested and physically assaulted by police on Wednesday at a protest march in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, according to the union.

In response to Ajaero’s reported assault and abuse by security personnel in Imo State, the NLC announced that the organized labor leadership will call an urgent meeting to adopt a firm stance on the issue.

Benson Upah, the Head of Information and Publicity for the NLC, told THISDAY over the phone on Thursday that a meeting of all labor movement organs will be held to discuss the actions of the Imo State government and the police during the NLC-organized protest in Owerri.

According to him, any affiliated union is allowed by law to take any action to show their displeasure over the events in Owerri.

But the union called the treatment of Ajaero, who also serves as the General Secretary of NUEE, callous and inhumane in a letter headlined “Mobilization for Indefinite Nationwide Strike due to the Abduction of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero.”

“In response to the atrocious and inhumane behaviours of our fellow comrade and the President of the NLC by the Imo State governor and the policemen of the Imo State Command today, Wednesday, November 1, 2023, we will embark on total shutdown of the nation if the president is not released and adequate explanation given by the Nigerian government,” read the letter, which was addressed to all branches of the union and signed by its Deputy General Secretary, Dominic Igwwbuike.

“To this effect, all the national, state and chapter executives are requested to start mobilization of our members for total compliance with the directive.

“Please note that withdrawal of services commences nationwide at 00.00 hours of Thursday, November 2, 2023.

“We cannot be at work while the president of the NLC is incarcerated and we cannot be at peace when the rights of workers in Imo State are trampled upon with utmost impunity.”