The Transmission Company of Nigeria said that the ongoing industrial action by the Nigerian Labour Congress in Kaduna State has resulted in the interruption of bulk electricity supply within the state.
Recall that the President of the Congress, Ayuba Wabba, had condemned the decision of the State Government to layoff thousands of civil servants.
Wabba had also said that the Union would embark on a five-day strike for both public and private organisations in the state.
The Kaduna State Government had on April 6, disengaged about 4,000 public service workers in the state.
This, the government said, was due to dwindling financial resources and higher wage bill which it cannot sustain.
However, the Governor of the State, Nasiru El-Rufai had insisted that the government was not elected just to pay salaries of public servants alone, but to also develop the state by building schools, hospitals, upgrading infrastructure and making the state more secure and attractive to the private sector for jobs and investments.
El-Rufai had pointed out that what the government has been receiving from the Federation Account Allocation Committee since the middle of 2020, like most other sub-nationals, can barely pay salaries and overheads.
He said that in the last six months, personnel costs have accounted for between 84.97 per cent and 96.63 per cent of FAAC transfers received by the Kaduna State Government.
While the State Government noted that the overall wages of the public sector are still relatively low, it said that the current levels are obviously limited by the resources available to the government.
However, TCN in a statement signed by Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs, on Sunday said that there had been intense pressure from the Union demanding that all 33kV feeders radiating from its substations within Kaduna State be switched off.
It said, “Regrettably, the Union functionaries returned today with similar demands amid palpable threats that could escalate and jeopardize national grid security.
“It was during this morning’s encounter that the System Operators were forced to shut down the 33kV feeders from 6:36Hrs this morning.”
TCN further noted that before this, KADCO had earlier shut down its 11kV feeders, which it started de-loading from 3am on Sunday.
“TCN is mindful of the inconveniences this would cause electricity customers within the state and pray for a peaceful resolution between the parties, to enable the restoration of bulk power supply to our substations for Kaduna Disco to take to its electricity customers. Please bear with us,” it stated.
This follows series of notice of strike action from the various institutions in the state.
For example, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), had directed its members to commence strike action from today, May 16.
According to the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG, the move is in compliance with the congress planed campaign against alleged anti-labour practices of the Kaduna state government.
Similarly, aviation workers in the state had also disclosed its plans to shut down flight operations at the Kaduna Airport today, as the various aviation unions in the country jointly resolved to proceed on an industrial action till next week Friday.
This was disclosed in a letter jointly signed by the leaders of the National Union Of Air Transport Employees, Association Of Nigeria Aviation Professionals and National Association Of Aircraft Pilots And Engineers.
The letter titled, ‘Notice To All Aviation Workers – Total Shut Down Of Kaduna Airport’, was signed by NUATE General Secretary, Ocheme Aba; ANAP General Secretary, Rasaq Saidu; and NAAPE General Secretary, Umoh Ofonime.
The Kaduna Airport has both domestic and international wings and processes both local and international passengers.
According to the Unions, the strike is in line with the Nigeria Labour Congress planned campaign.
ENDS