By Victor Ahiuma-Young

LAGOS — ORGANISED labour in the nation’s electricity industry has directed workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to begin an indefinite industrial action from today, over unpaid monetisation arrears among others.

Under the umbrella of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, the union in a circular with reference number. 12/2010 and dated 23rd August, 2010, entitled “Stop Work if Monetisation ,MTN, is not paid by Wednesday, August 25,
2010,” said all gates to PHCN installations must remain locked and every observed saboteur should be adequately sanctioned.

The circular sent to all members of staff and signed by the union’s General Secretary, Mr. Joe Ajaero, read: “Despite agreement reached at the end of the meeting between the Minister of State for Power, PHCN Management and the

Electricity Sector Labour Unions on 25th July, 2010, we regret to inform you that the Government and PHCN have refused to respect the pact that states; “That payment of the monetization arrears would commence on Monday, 26th July, 2010
and would continue non-stop until completion within 30 days.”

“You will recall that based on the agreement, we shelved the indefinite industrial action that would have commenced on Monday, 26th July,, 2010. Because of their insensitivity in resolving this all important issues it has become
imperative, therefore to react accordingly. Consequently, all members of staff and the Unions are hereby directed not to report for duty as from Wednesday, 25th August, 2010 except payments are made to all eligible members of staff. It

should further be noted that all gates to PHCN installations must remain locked and every observed saboteur should be adequately sanctioned.This is for strict compliance, please.”