Electricity Workers Suspend Strike After Federal Government’s Intervention

A nationwide blackout was averted yesterday arsenic energy workers suspended their onslaught aft astir 10 hours, pursuing the involution of the national authorities successful the labour quality affecting the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The solution was reached during an exigency gathering convened by the curate of Power, represented by elder officials from the ministry, and attended by representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, TCN management, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) successful Abuja.

The strike, which stemmed from unresolved payment and operational concerns, had raised fears of a nationwide blackout.

However, aft hours of deliberation, some parties agreed to cardinal resolutions that paved the mode for the suspension of the concern action.

According to a communiqué issued astatine the decision of the meeting, the unions accepted the Minister’s entreaty to reappraisal a lasting committee study by October 6–7, 2025, with implementation to statesman aboriginal that month.

The communiqué further stated that TCN and NISO would collaborate to measure the fiscal implications of the committee’s study and hole an implementation program for presumption to the Minister of Power and the unions. Additionally, some unions and absorption are expected to reconvene successful different gathering to code outstanding issues.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was besides instructed to expedite its reappraisal of tariffs to facilitate the creaseless implementation of the agreement. The parties agreed that nary worker would beryllium victimised for participating successful the strike.

With these resolutions successful place, the unions announced the suspension of their strike, allowing the agreements to beryllium activated.

Labour leaders described the result arsenic a “measured victory” portion cautioning that they would not hesitate to resume concern enactment should the authorities oregon TCN neglect to uphold the agreement.

This improvement has eased rising anxiousness crossed the country, wherever fears of a prolonged blackout had gripped homes and businesses.

NUEE had commenced an indefinite onslaught the erstwhile day, accusing the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) of neglecting unit payment and captious operational issues.

In a circular dated 24 September 2025, NUEE’s acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, stated that the national could nary longer stay passive portion members’ rights were violated and the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) continued to decline.

The workers’ grievances see the non-implementation of the caller nationalist minimum wage, unit casualisation, non-payment of salaries since April 2025, deficiency of operational tools and vehicles, and nonaccomplishment to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) since 2021.

They besides cited unresolved issues from the unbundling of TCN and non-payment of status benefits.

NUEE remarked, “It is regrettable that TCN absorption has chosen to dainty these captious issues with levity and utter disregard for its hard-working staff. We cannot proceed to fold our arms portion our rights are trampled upon and the energy assemblage deteriorates. To this end, the national is compelled to retreat its services immediately. Members are hereby directed to retreat their services until absorption demonstrates readiness to conscionable its obligations to the workforce.