THE National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) on Tuesday directed its Kaduna State Council to comply fully with the 5-day warning strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to protest the mass sack of workers in Kaduna State by Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
In a circular dated May 11, 2021 and addressed to all members of the union in Kaduna State Council, Comrade Joe Ajaero, NUEE General Secretary, stated that: “In line with NLC directive on shut down of activities in Kaduna, you are hereby directed to ensure TOTAL BLACK OUT in Kaduna by 00 hours on Saturday, 15th May, 2021.”
In the circular entitled: “Total Blackout in Kaduna”, Comrade Ajaero further stated: “You should liaise with other States or Regions through which Kaduna could be back fed to ensure that there is no supply to Kaduna.
“Any Station or Officer whose unit is found wanting, the Chapter or State Council will be sanctioned for anti-union activities.”
He therefore called on the council to “ensure total compliance.”
Meanwhile the Kaduna State Council of the NLC is billed to commence the 5-day warning strike to drive home its grievances over the mass sack of 4,000 workers by the Kaduna State government.
The strike, according to the NLC, will cover all unions in both public and private sectors in line with a recent resolution of NLC NEC “to ground activities for five days as proposed by the national headquarters to serve as warning strike for the sacking of over 4,000 workers in the state”.
A statement jointly signed by the Kaduna State Chairperson of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, and the State Council Secretary, Comrade Christiana John Bawa, made available to journalists in Kaduna on Monday, said the decision to embark on the warning strike was arrived at in an emergency meeting held with the delegation from the national headquarters of the Congress in Kaduna.
“The total withdrawal of services would commence this coming Sunday 16th May, 2021 by 12:00am (midnight). It’s lamented that due process was not followed on the recent disengagement of over 4,000 workers from the Local Government Service, SUBEB and Primary Health Care Agency by Kaduna state government.
“The proposed withdrawal of services and the protest would be monitored by the National Presidents and the General Secretaries of the Nigeria Labour Congress and all the unions.
“NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, will be in Kaduna state to ensure the enforcement.
“NLC directed that all civil servants in Kaduna state should remain at home for five days as a warning strike after which further directive will be given. It also urges civil society organizations, journalists, market women and men, Okada riders and well-meaning citizens to support workers in Kaduna state at this trying time.
“It will be recalled that Kaduna state government sacked over 30,000 workers in 2017 and up to date their entitlements have not been settled,” the statement further reads.
