Electricity Workers Call Off Strike Following Govt Negotiations

Electricity workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have suspended their nationwide strike after the Federal Government intervened in the dispute between the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the National Independent System Operator, and the sector’s in-house unions.

The decision came after a marathon meeting convened in Abuja on Thursday by the Minister of Power, with support from the Federal Ministry of Labour. The meeting, held at Fraser Suites, was attended by representatives of NUEE and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies.

The strike, which had threatened to plunge Nigeria into a prolonged blackout, was halted following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at addressing long-standing labour grievances.

According to the agreements reached, the unions consented to the minister’s request to review the committee report on workers’ demands between October 6 and 7, 2025. Implementation of the resolutions is expected to commence later this month.

It was also agreed that TCN and NISO would jointly assess the financial implications of the report, prepare an implementation plan, and reconvene with the minister and union representatives for further action.

The MoU further highlighted the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s commitment to expediting tariff reviews for TCN and NISO, enabling the execution of the report. Importantly, the agreement assured that no employee would be victimised for participating in the industrial action.

The resolution read in part: “Following the ultimatum issued by the in-house unions (NUEE & SSAEAC) to TCN Management on various labour issues which elapsed on Monday, 23rd September 2025, the Minister of Power, represented by senior directors of the ministry, intervened to apprehend the picketing exercise embarked on by the unions.

“After extensive discussions, the following agreements were reached: That the unions honour the minister’s request to review the committee’s report by 6th/7th October 2025; that TCN and NISO shall evaluate the financial implications of the report and prepare an implementation plan; and that both in-house unions will reconvene with TCN and NISO management to resolve other issues accordingly.”

Union leaders explained that their decision to suspend the industrial action was meant to give room for implementation of the resolutions, stressing that compliance would be closely monitored.

Earlier, NUEE had directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services indefinitely until the management of TCN addressed welfare and operational concerns. The union argued that the strike became unavoidable after the expiration of an ultimatum given to TCN, which failed to resolve grievances relating to poor staff welfare, lack of essential tools, and disregard for workers’ rights.

Their demands included the immediate implementation of the National Minimum Wage, an end to the casualisation of workers, provision of working tools and operational vehicles, payment of staff salaries owed since April 2025, supply of Personal Protective Equipment last provided in 2021, settlement of retirement benefits, and resolution of issues arising from the unbundling of TCN.

In an interview, NUEE Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, stated that repeated promises by management had gone unfulfilled.

“We have been making demands for a long time. The issue of consequential adjustment to the minimum wage, no availability of working tools, promotion issues, and a whole lot of other things remain unresolved. We gave a deadline, it expired on Monday, and after our follow-up meeting on Wednesday ended in a deadlock, we had no choice but to proceed with the strike,” Igwebike explained.

A strike notice circulated to NUEE members had directed them to withdraw services until management met its obligations. It criticised TCN for allegedly handling staff issues with “kid gloves” and warned that the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry risked further collapse if workers’ rights continued to be ignored.

The industrial action led to the closure of the Osogbo Regional Office, one of TCN’s key operational hubs, worsening fears of a nationwide blackout. NUEE had embarked on a similar strike in June 2024, which disrupted electricity supply across many states and compelled the Federal Government to enter emergency negotiations.

The latest strike highlights persistent challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, despite years of reforms and privatisation. Chronic issues such as poor infrastructure, low generation capacity, tariff disputes, and recurrent labour unrest have hindered progress.

While government officials assured that this round of negotiations would yield lasting solutions, electricity workers cautioned that the suspension of the strike was only temporary. They insisted that any failure to honour the agreements reached would result in a resumption of the industrial action.

For now, Nigerians can breathe a sigh of relief as power supply stabilises, but uncertainty lingers over whether the commitments made will translate into tangible improvements for both electricity workers and consumers.