Grid Shutdown: Labour Accuse TCN Of Spreading Falsehood, Using Military To Intimidate Striking Workers

The organized labour, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have accused the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) of deploying security agencies, especially the military to their offices and transmission substations to intimidate union members who are carrying out their democratic rights in compliance to the nationwide strike.

In a statement signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the striking labour unions warned that TCN should be held responsible for any injury or casualty recorded at their offices and transmission substations nationwide in course of the ongoing strike.

The TCN had earlier Monday alerted the Nation of total shutdown of the national grid, claiming that the labour union members who are enforcing compliance to its declared indefinite strike were beating up its staff in apparent bid to subdue them to compliance.

But according to the NLC President, “We have been duly informed
that the TCN management has
resorted to the use of the military in its effort at intimidating
and harassing workers in its
employ who are carrying out
their lawful and democratic
duties at various TCN plants
around Nigeria.

“We warn that
the Management of TCN would
be held liable for any injury inflicted on any worker by their resort to the use of the powers of
the military. It is also important
that we inform TCN that deploying military men to its locations is a clear abuse and insult on the military especially in
a democracy. We are sure that
members of the military so
misused by this deployment are
not happy with the management
and the authorities who have
authorised the deployment.

“The NLC and TUC remains
steadfast in its commitment
to the emancipation of down-trodden Nigerians and will persist in the struggle for a fair
and just living wage, as well as the reversal of the excessive electricity tariff hike.”

The labour unions urged all
Nigerians to stand in solidarity with them in demand for the implementation of policies that prioritize the wellbeing of the
people, stressing that “We will not back down
and we will not give in to any
blackmail, intimidation or harassment.”

The NLC President cautioned TCN to desist from making the nationwide strike any TCN affair as other government agencies were equally affected, spreading falsehood about the unions but to focus its attention and resources on how to render quality services to Nigerians.

“We
would like the organisation to
take adequate measures to ensure that it discharges its responsibilities to Nigerians especially the Electricity sector instead of dissipating its energy
on trying to insult Nigerian
workers by its deliberate peddling of falsehood”, he stated.