Nigerian electricity workers under the umbrella of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) have threatened to shut down electricity operations across the country.
This followed the alleged assault, arrest and humiliation of 10 of its members by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Bauchi State.
The union issued a three-day ultimatum to the authorities on Monday, demanding action over the incident and warning that failure to address the matter could trigger a nationwide disruption of electricity services.
The National Deputy President of SSAEAC, Rilwanu Shehu, disclosed the ultimatum during a protest in Bauchi over the alleged invasion of the Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) office and arrest of its employees by NAF personnel.
According to Shehu, the incident occurred on September 18 after JED disconnected electricity supply to the NAF quarters located along the Ningi-Kano Road over alleged unpaid electricity bills.
He said the electricity company had informed the relevant NAF authorities before the disconnection was carried out.
However, Shehu alleged that NAF personnel subsequently stormed the JED operational office and arrested 10 workers, who were allegedly assaulted before being taken to an undisclosed location.
Some of the workers, he added, are currently receiving medical treatment as a result of the alleged assault.
“We are scared, we are not safe and cannot continue with our activities,” Shehu 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.”
Shehu said the ultimatum commenced on September 21 and would expire on September 23.
He warned that the union would exhaust all available legal avenues in its pursuit of justice while insisting that electricity workers must be allowed to perform their duties without intimidation or harassment.
“We will not tolerate any act of injustice, intimidation or harassment against our members,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi branch chairman of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Sikamta Mshelinga, said electricity workers in the state had been directed to remain at home and withdraw their services pending further instructions from the national leadership.
The development has raised concerns over the possibility of a wider industrial action in the electricity sector if the dispute is not resolved before the expiration of the ultimatum.
Earlier, leaders of SSAEAC and NUEE, alongside officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU), met with the Bauchi Commissioner of Police and the state Director of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The labour leaders formally reported the alleged assault and arrest of the electricity workers and appealed to the security agencies to intervene.
The unions called for an amicable resolution of the dispute and urged the authorities to ensure the safety of electricity workers in the course of carrying out their official responsibilities.