A nationwide blackout may be imminent as electricity workers have threatened to withdraw their services over the alleged assault, arrest and harassment of 10 Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) workers by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel in Bauchi State.
The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) issued a three-day ultimatum to authorities to address the incident, warning that electricity sector operations across the country could be grounded if no action is taken.
Rilwanu Shehu, National Deputy President of SSAEAC, gave the warning on Monday during a protest in Bauchi over the alleged invasion of a JED office and arrest of its workers.
Shehu said the ultimatum runs from September 21 to September 23.
“We are scared, we are not safe and cannot continue with our activities,” he said.
“We give benefit of doubt to the security operatives, the police and DSS to intervene and resolve the matter amicably. We will ground the activities of the electricity industry in the entire nation if nothing is done to the NAF men who assaulted our staff.”
According to the union, the incident occurred on September 18 after JED disconnected electricity supply to NAF quarters along the Ningi-Kano Road over unpaid electricity bills.
Shehu said JED had notified the NAF authorities before the disconnection.
He alleged that NAF personnel subsequently invaded the JED office, arrested 10 workers and assaulted them before taking them to an undisclosed location.
The union leader said some of the affected workers were receiving medical treatment following the alleged assault.
He added that SSAEAC would pursue legal channels to protect its members and seek justice over the incident.
“We will not tolerate any act of injustice, intimidation or harassment against our members,” Shehu said.
Meanwhile, Sikamta Mshelinga, Bauchi branch chairman of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), said workers would remain at home and withdraw their services pending further directives from the union's national leadership.
The leadership of SSAEAC and NUEE, accompanied by officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU), had earlier visited the Bauchi Commissioner of Police and the state director of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The unions reported the incident to the security agencies and urged them to intervene and resolve the dispute.
The unions' warning raises the possibility of disruptions to electricity distribution nationwide if the dispute is not resolved before the expiration of the ultimatum on September 23.
