Blackout Looms as Electricity Workers Issue 21- day Strike Notice to FG

Electricity workers in Nigeria, represented by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), have warned they may go on strike if their demands are not met.

The workers have given the Federal Government a 21-day notice for a nationwide strike.

They cite widespread anti-labour practices, wage violations, unpaid taxes and pensions, and growing job insecurity in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The workers say that if these issues are not resolved within 21 days, they will strike, which could disrupt electricity generation and distribution across the country.

The strike notice, dated January 26, 2026, was signed by NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, and sent to the Minister of Power. It states that these issues have been discussed for about twelve years, but the government has not resolved them.

“We have written several letters to your highly exalted office( Minister) on precarious work in NESI, especially in Gencos and Discos since after the privatisation of the electricity sector for more than 12 years, but the Ministry seems not to be interested in the matter,” Dominic lamented in the letter.

The workers say that employers in the power sector have refused to negotiate or follow collective agreements and conditions of service, especially in power-generating companies. They also claim that the 2025 National Minimum Wage Act and its related changes have not been put into effect.

“The sector is bedevilled with managements that have refused to collectively negotiate and implement Procedural Agreements and Conditions of Service, and have failed to implement the 2025 National Minimum Wage Act,” the notice added.

They allege that workers are not allowed to fully unionise, as union activities are limited at work. They also accuse employers of deducting union dues and other required payments but not sending them to the right places.

“Employers have refused to allow unionisation of workers, infringing on their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, while union dues deducted from workers are not remitted,” the workers said.

NUEE says that third-party deductions, like Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax and pension contributions, have not been paid for long periods, sometimes for several years.

“Pension deductions have not been remitted for up to 82 months in some Discos, including Kaduna and Kano,” the notice alleged.

The workers also claim that some management teams at Discos and Gencos have harassed, intimidated, and threatened employees.

“Labour is being treated as an enemy rather than a critical stakeholder, with continuous harassment, threats, intimidation, and militarisation of the workplace in companies such as Ikeja Electric and Egbin Power Plc,” the union stated.

They say that even though electricity tariffs have gone up, and power companies are earning more, workers have not seen any benefits. There have been no promotions, pay raises, or bonuses.

“Tariffs have gone up repeatedly, yet there has been no promotion, no increment, no bonuses, and no improvement in working conditions for workers, while customers vent their anger on innocent employees,” the notice said.

The union also says that investors have not kept their promises after privatisation. These promises included putting in more money, providing meters, expanding the network, and improving power supply. The union sees this as proof that privatisation has failed.

They are asking the Federal Government to step in quickly and bring everyone together to solve the crisis. They warn that if the situation is ignored, workers may have to take “legitimate labour actions” to protect their rights and interests.