Abuja, the Nigeria’s capital has been thrown into darkness after the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, embarked on an industrial strike.
AFRIPOST observed on Wednesday that Abuja has since the early hours of Wednesday been thrown into darkness affecting and disrupting economic activities in the city.
Artisans and other residents of Abuja have lamented the economic effects of the blackout and have appealed to the government to resolve the crisis with the electricity workers and allow residents to have access to the scarcely available power.
Mr Anthony Ani, speaking with AFRIPOST said: “It’s only in Nigeria that essential workers like these ones will go on strike.
“Light that we don’t even have, the manageable one has been cut permanently. This is sad.”
Musa Ibrahim lamented that should the situation continue, many businesses will crumble. He said the ordinary Nigerian is at the losing end, considering that those in government may have alternative to electricity generated by the government.
NUEE had on August 15 directed its members to picket TCN offices nationwide on August 16, after which they would embark on strike on August 17.
The General Secretary, NUEE, Joe Ajaero, had in a statement said the picketing was to protest the directive by the TCN board that all principal managers in acting capacity going to acting general manager rank must appear for a promotion interview.
Mr Ajaero said the directive was in contravention of the workers’ conditions of service and career progression paths, and alleged that it was unilaterally done without the relevant stakeholders.
A video obtained by AFRIPOST Thursday evening revealed electricity workers turning off the power in the Federal Capital Territory and this will affect neighbouring states like Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi and a host of other states.
In the video, a voice was heard: We are shutting down electricity in Abuja. As we are doing this, the whole of Abuja, Akwanga…”
Nigeria is facing electricity crisis amid insecurity as bandits have taken over many communities around the country.