The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has issued a final seven day demand notice to federal government to forestall possible total action that could cripple electricity generation and distribution nationwide.
In a letter addressed to Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, called for urgent attention to the union’s demands.
He lamented what it described as worsening conditions for workers, more than 12 years after the privatisation of the power sector.
This letter is coming after the expiration of its earlier 21-day ultimatum and no concrete action taken by the Federal Government to address its concerns.
“It is quite unfortunate that you are not taking the workers seriously, despite the myriad operational problems that have bedeviled the NESI since privatization, making the privatized power sector worse than the government owned PHCN.
“It is not surprising that, when the 21-day ultimatum in our demand notice expired, you showed no visible interest in the genuine resolution of the labour concerns raised in the letter, thereby empowering those running the sector to continue their lawlessness and enslavement of labour.
“An attempt by the Honourable Minister of Labour to resolve these issues through conciliation was again thwarted by your absence and that of some of the ‘above the law’ companies in the privatized power sector from the meeting organized by the Honourable Minister of Labour on the 11th of March, 2026.
“We are not deterred by the frustration but remain resolute to free our members from precarious work arising from the unwholesome and unethical labour practices in the system,” the statement read.
The union accused power sector employers, particularly distribution companies (DISCOs) and generation companies (GENCOs), of widespread anti-labour practices, wage violations and failure to remit deducted pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) taxes and pension contributions.
NUEE said the minister and government should be held liable for any disruption to industrial harmony in the system if their demands are not met after the expiration of the 7-day ultimatum.
