Blackout hits Nigeria as electricity workers begin strike

News Update

Nigerians may experience blackout in the coming days as the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, commenced a strike action on Wednesday over non-implementation of the national minimum wage, casualisation of workers and other demands.

The industrial action was disclosed in a notice signed by the Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Dominic Igwebike, on Wednesday.

The union said its decision to commence the strike action follows the expiration of the ultimatum issued to the Management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria,TCN, over its demands.

NUEE said it cannot fold its hands while the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, goes down the drain, hence the justification for the strike action.

“It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided to handle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-working staff of TCN. This, they have displayed without any defined road map(s) to addressing them.

“We cannot continue to fold our arms while we watch our rights being vehemently violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) going down the drain. To this end, the Union is compelled to withdraw its services.

“Members are hereby directed to withdraw services until such time that the management is ready to discharge its obligations towards the workforce,” the notice reads.

The union had downed tools in June 2024, leading to a disruption in electricity supply.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, is yet to respond to Journalist at the time of filing this report.

Full text of the NUEE strike notice:

A CALL TO ACTION

Following the expiration of the Union’s ultimatum to TCN Management over some staff welfare and operational issues, which include:

1. Non-implementation of National Minimum Wage

2. Casualisation of Workers

3. Non-provision of working tools and materials 4. Non-payment of staff salaries since April 2025

5. Lack of Operational Vehicles

6. Non-provision of PPEs since 2021

7. Issues arising from the unbundling of TCN

8. Non-payment of retirement benefits

It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided to handle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-working staff of TCN. This, they have displayed without any defined road map(s) to addressing them.

We cannot continue to fold our arms while we watch our rights being vehemently violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) going down the drain. To this end, the Union is compelled to withdraw its services.

Members are hereby directed to withdraw services until such time that the management is ready to discharge its obligations towards the workforce.

This directive takes immediate effect and requires total compliance.