FG to meet labour to avert nationwide power outage READ/RT

:::::In order to avert the threatened nationwide
power outage by the National Union of
Electricity Employees (NUEE), the Minister of
Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu,
yesterday invited the labour movement to a
meeting scheduled for August 15.
The Assistant Director, Press, Mr. Samuel
Oloowokere, who made this known in a
statement, said the invitation was to ensure
a hitch-free power sector reform.
The workers, who protested the non-payment
of their accurate retirement benefits this
week at the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Limited Corporate Headquarters in
Abuja, also threatened to embark on industrial action by shutting down all the PHCN
installations to cause a nationwide power outage if the Federal Government fails to pay their
retirement benefits.
Members of PHCN staff have since noted that they are not against the privatization of the
unbundled companies, but that their demand is simply payment of their accurate severance
packages.
But the ministry’s statement reads: “The Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity,
Chief Emeka Wogu, CON, has in a letter dated August 10, 2012 invited the labour movement
to a meeting.
“The meeting, which is scheduled for Wednesday August 15, 2012, by 2 pm at the
Honourable Minister’s Conference room, will among other things discuss current labour
issues existing in the power sector.
“Chief Wogu assured Nigerian workers of the Federal Government’s commitment to
implementing collective agreements, while encouraging the labour unions to further embrace
the spirit of tripartism in the interest of the entire nation.
“The Minister emphasised that the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan is developmental-oriented, while soliciting the continued support of labour unions
and other stakeholders.”