Electricity supply across Nigeria may grind to a halt within hours as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) on Wednesday commenced an indefinite nationwide strike over unresolved disputes with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
In a circular signed by NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, the union directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services until long-standing welfare and operational grievances are addressed.
The union accused TCN of neglecting critical issues such as poor staff welfare, lack of essential working tools, and repeated violations of workers’ rights. “Unfortunately, the TCN management has chosen to treat these matters with levity, showing no regard for its hardworking staff,” the notice read in part.
NUEE listed its demands to include:
- Full implementation of the National Minimum Wage.
- An end to casualisation of workers.
- Provision of tools, materials, and operational vehicles.
- Payment of outstanding staff salaries dating back to April 2025.
- Supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), last distributed in 2021.
- Resolution of issues from the unbundling of TCN.
- Settlement of pending retirement benefits.
The directive, which takes immediate effect, instructed electricity workers across the country to ensure “total compliance.”
The strike has sparked fears of a nationwide blackout, compounding the challenges of an already fragile power sector plagued by low generation capacity, inadequate infrastructure, and frequent labour unrest.
This is not the first time NUEE has taken such action. In June 2024, a similar shutdown crippled power supply in many states and forced the Federal Government into emergency negotiations.
Efforts to reach TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, for comments were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
The latest strike adds to public frustration, as it comes amid repeated government assurances of reforming the power sector, which continues to struggle despite years of privatisation and intervention programmes.
