Electricity workers in Nigeria, under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), have threatened to go on strike over unfulfilled demands.
The workers have issued a 21-day nationwide strike notice to the Federal Government over what they described as widespread anti-labour practices, wage violations, non-remittance of deducted tax, pension and worsening job insecurity in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The also decried failure to resolve all the pending issues within the 21 days would result in strike action capable of crippling electricity generation and distribution nationwide.
The strike notice, dated January 26, 2026, signed by NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, and addressed to the Minister of Power, said the issues they are raising have been on the table for about twelve years, and the government has failed to resolve 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 accused power sector employers of refusing to negotiate or implement collective agreements and conditions of service, particularly in power-generating companies, while also failing to implement the 2025 National Minimum Wage Act and its consequential adjustments.
“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 alleged that workers are being denied their constitutional right to unionise, with union activities restricted within company premises, and accused employers of deducting but failing to remit union dues and other statutory deductions.
“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.
According to NUEE, third-party deductions such as Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax and pension contributions have also not been remitted for prolonged periods, in some cases running into 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 alleged harassment, intimidation, and threats against employees by managements of some Discos and Gencos.
“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 lamented that repeated electricity tariff hikes, band reclassification, and increased revenues to power companies have not had any positive impact on workers’ welfare, with no promotions, salary increments, 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 accused investors in the sector of failing to fulfil post-privatisation promises of capital injection, metering, network expansion, and improved power supply, describing the situation as evidence of the failure of the privatisation exercise.
They urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene by bringing all parties together to resolve the crisis, warning that continued neglect could force workers to take “legitimate labour actions” to defend their rights and interests.
“We demand the immediate resolution of all these anti-labour issues within twenty-one days of the receipt of this letter. Otherwise, we will not be constrained to take our fate into our hands by employing any legitimate labour weapon suitable for the situation. This is not a threat,” the statement added.
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