Satff of Power Holding Company of? Nigeria(PHCN) have asked the federal government to explain the reasons it now decided to pay N45billion? as their severance package against the N384 billion it ear lier promised.
President General, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), Mr. Bede Opara,? made the demand in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday.
Opara said the workers recently received a letter to that effect from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
Opara said that the salary scale used in computing their gratuity was not the salary scale agreed with the technical and negotiation team under the leadership of the Secretary to Government of the Federation.
He said that the unions had nothing to negotiate with the government any more.
He advised the ministry of power to ensure that all labour issues were addressed to enable the workers? get their entitlements in time.
NAN reports that the unions, on Tuesday, boycotted the meeting of a committee set up by the ministry on the payment of severance benefits.
The Minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, had announced that the committee would be inaugurated on Tuesday.
“There is nothing to negotiate with the government again because we have finished negotiation since December 12, 2012.
“What we think we are here for is the implementation of the agreement reached with the government’s representatives,” Opara stressed.
He contended that the technical committee earlier set up on the matter should be allowed to continue its work.
“The technical committee comprising Alexander Forbes, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), PHCN and the in-house unions should be allowed to continue with their responsibility.”