Workers - News Agency Of Nigeria

Lydia Beshel
Sep, Fri, 2025

Electricity employees suspend nationwide strike, sign MoU with FG

Edited for use

Strike
By Constance Athekame
Two major electricity unions have suspended their planned nationwide strike following the intervention of the Federal Government.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC)
had threatened to embark on industrial action over unresolved issues in the power sector.

The workers had earlier planned to down tools to press home their demands from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) over non implementation of the national minimum wage and other operational issues,

The union decided to suspend the strike after extensive discussions with representatives of the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu and the labour unions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the end of the meeting in Abuja on Thursday night.

A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), sighted by NAN in Abuja on Friday, revealed that the agreement was signed by representatives of the Ministers of Power and Labour, as well as leaders of the labour unions.

Other signatories to the MoU include representatives of the TCN, and the National Independent System Operator(NISO), who signed on behalf of the federal government.

While the General Secretary of SSAEAC, and the acting General Secretary of NUEE signed for the labour unions.

The MoU said” after extensive discussions, the following agreements were reached:

Among the agreements was the decision for the unions to consider the report of a standing committee between Oct. 6 and Oct.7, with a view to commencing its implementation in the same month.

In addition, TCN and NISO are to jointly evaluate the financial implications of the report and prepare an implementation plan for presentation to the minister and the unions.

It was further resolved that both unions would reconvene with TCN and NISO management to address other outstanding issues.

The MoU also directed Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to fast-track the review of tariffs for TCN and NISO to enable implementation of the committee’s recommendations.

The MoU also included a key clause stating that no employee would be victimised for participating in the industrial action.

Following the agreement, and in a show of good faith, the unions announced the suspension of the planned strike to allow for the implementation of the resolutions reached during negotiations.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa

FCT area council workers suspend strike following Wike’s intervention

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Mon, 2025

Metro

FCT area council workers suspend strike following Wike’s intervention

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has suspended its three-month strike following the intervention of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

The suspension was announced by the union in a statement, jointly signed by its President, Ibrahim Kabir and Secretary, Andulmumini Sa’ad, in Abuja on Monday.

The union explained that its State Executive Council (SEC) resolved to suspend the strike effective from midnight after exhaustive deliberation on Monday.

It said that the development followed Wike’s directive to utilise area councils’ 10 per cent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to offset the workers’ three months’ salary arrears.

The union said that another resolution was for NULGE to work with the Special Committee constituted by Wike to harmonise all outstanding arrears within two weeks.

This, according to the union, was to ensure a holistic resolution through the National Assembly House Committee on FCT and Ancillary Matters.

The workers added that the union would engage with the area council chairmen to address outstanding issues.

“NULGE is committed to sustaining industrial peace and harmony within the council and FCT at large.

“The union expresses its profound gratitude to the FCT minister, the traditional council of FCT, and all relevant stakeholders for their efforts in resolving the industrial action,” the workers said.

The union identified the outstanding issues as 40 per cent peculiar allowance from January 2023 to date and 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustments from June 2023.

Other issues are N35,000 wage award for six months from August 2024 to date, unremitting pension deductions, promotion arrears and other outstanding entitlements.

“The union remains committed to engaging with the area council chairmen on the remaining entitlements and looks forward to a swift resolution of all outstanding issues,” the statement said. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Yuletide: Benue workers to enjoy 2-week holiday

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Wed, 2024

General News

Yuletide: Benue workers to enjoy 2-week holiday

By Emmanuel Antswen

Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue has declared a two-week holiday for civil servants in the state to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

Alia made this known on Tuesday in Makurdi in his Christmas message to Benue people.

The governor said that the holiday commenced on Dec. 24 and ends on Jan. 6, 2025.

He said the essence of the long holiday was to allow workers to enjoy the season with their loved ones.

Alia enjoined them to use the period to engage in farming activities to boost food production and reduce poverty.

“In the spirit of the Yuletide and in conjunction with the Benue Executive Council, I’m pleased to announce an elongated Christmas and New Year for the state workforce.

“This decision underscores our commitment to supporting the well-being of our workforce.

“While you use it to enjoy this festive season with your loved ones, it is also expected that the holiday afford you the time to attend to your various agricultural engagements.”he said

The governor, however, said all essential service providers would devise a schedule to work during the said period.

He listed those offering essential services to include financial institutions, energy providers, security agencies, hospitals, telecommunications, fire service, and water board, among others.

Alia advised the people of the state to continue to imbibe the spirit of love and peace while remaining committed to a better Benue.

The governor prayed for a peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration (NAN). www.nannews.ng

Edited by Peter Amine

Benue workers to get ₦75,000 as minimum wage

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Tue, 2024

General News

Benue workers to get ₦75,000 as minimum wage

By Peter Amine

Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue has approved a minimum wage of ₦75,000 for workers in the state.

Alia in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, announced the new wage after he met with the organised labour on Monday in Makurdi.

The governor said that the new minimum wage would take effect from November.

He stated that the remaining three months of the five-month backlog of salary arrears promised workers would be paid as budgeted in the 2024 budget.

He emphasised that the arrears would be paid along with the new minimum wage.

“We decided to set the wage at ₦75,000, fully aware of the other concerns raised by organised labour during the negotiations.

“These concerns included a minimum wage of N30,000, wage awards, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days, among others.

“Recall that the President had approved the sum of N70,000, which we have decided to exceed, considering the concerns raised by organised labour regarding our ability to pay,” he said.

Alia restated his administration’s commitment to serve the common man and stressed that he would ensure that Benue workers were properly taken care of.

The governor added that his motivation to ensure the arrears were paid was to alleviate the effects of hardship on workers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Gabriel Yough