Electricity workers protest in Ilorin

Members of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria under the National Union of Electricity Employees, on Monday protested over the alleged non-payment of their entitlements.

They also said the protest was against the alleged inability of their employer to regularise the services of casual and contract staff of the company.

The  workers  locked up the PHCN Challenge and Baboko business units as early as 8am and prevented people from entering the premises.

The development made PHCN customers who had come to pay their electricity bills to go back without paying.

The protesting workers carried placards. Some of the placards had inscriptions such as “No to cheating, pay our entitlement,” “We welcome the investors, but pay our dues.”

 The Vice-Chairman of the group, Aderinto Adekunle, said the protesting workers were not against privatisation of the company.

He added that the workers would, however, not allow any investor to start business until their entitlements were paid.

He also said the workers were ready to seek redress in the court.

He alleged that 50 per cent of the workers had not received their entitlements, against the claims of the federal government.

The secretary of the union, Mr. Opeyemi Adeyeye, alleged that outstanding claims of the workers were yet to be paid more than seven years after agreement was reached on the issue between the union and the Federal Govenrment

Efforts by our correspondent to get the response of the management of the PHCN in the affected areas were unsuccessful as none of them was willing to talk on the issue.