The Federal Government has appealed to members of the National Union of Electricity Employees not to embark on a strike over the recent electricity tariff hike.
This is as the union insisted that they would withdraw their services should the government fail to rescind its decision on the removal of subsidy on the tariff payable by Band A customers.
The National President of the union, Adebiyi Adeyeye, in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, said the union stood by its warning to the Federal Government.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission had on April 3 raised the electricity tariff for customers enjoying 20 hours of power supply daily.
Speaking with our correspondent, Adeyeye the supply of 20 hours of electricity is not feasible with the current infrastructure.
“We just want the citizen to know that this thing is not possible, it is not feasible, you cannot give what you don’t have. When we don’t have the energy to give to the people and you ask our people to go out and collect such money, you know it is dangerous. Most times we don’t disclose what to do to the public because our sector is very critical to the nation,” he stated.
While saying that the union has yet to give any ultimatum on strike, he stressed the NUEE is advising the government to do the needful “before we will withdraw our services”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has urged the union not to withdraw its members.
In an interview, Adelabu, who spoke through his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, said the government was doing everything to improve supply in Nigeria and everybody will be happy at the end of the day.
“We just want to appeal to the labour union to understand what led to this. This is not about strike. it is about understanding; so that we can all work together. It is not anybody’s joy that there are blackouts all the time. These steps are being taken to solve the problems in the power sector. I beg the labour union to understand that this will galvanise the economy and create jobs.
“I want to appeal to the union to bear with us. It is for the good of the nation,” he stated.
