Power Holding Company of Nigeria(PHCN) workers yesterday said that unless their severance packages are paid the ongoing reform in the sector would not be successful.
General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) comrade Joe Ajaero who spoke with LEADERSHIP said though the workers are not against the privatisation programmes but would not be? like the Ajaokuta and? NITEL workers who? have not be paid their entitlements till date.
Comrade Ajaero while speaking on the new government negotiation team headed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim said the workers cannot take anything less than the 25 percent they contributed.
Federal Government and organised labour on Wednesday last week shifted the ongoing negotiations over the threat by electricity workers to embark on strike to Tuesday to enable the new government team come up with its position.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) and National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) met the government team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to agree on the rules of engagement.
The negotiation which will continue today? has? the government team that includes the Minister of Labour and Productivity Chief Emeka Wogu,? officials from the Power ministry and other government agencies.
PHCN Workers have threatened to go on strike over what they described as an attempt by the government to lay them off without paying their entitlements.
They are also against? the? occupation of their work place by soldiers and the alleged use of propaganda by the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji to instigate Nigerians against the unions.
Comrade Ajaero who spoke to LEADERSHP ahead of today’s meeting said: “we are still talking, the issues at stake are clear. We are not against the privatisation or? the reforms but pay us our entitlement”.
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