Nigerian electricity workers, under the National Union of Electricity Employees, have suspended their strike action following intervention from the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. The suspension is outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the NUEE, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, the Management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and the Ministry of Power.
The strike suspension comes after a meeting between the minister’s representatives, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and the unions. The Minister of Power was represented by the Director of Distribution Services and the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Federal Ministry of Power. According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Nigeria Integrated System Operator will meet to evaluate the financial implications of a report and prepare an implementation plan to be discussed with the unions.
The unions have agreed to consider the implementation of the report by October 6th or 7th, 2025. Additionally, the two in-house unions will reconvene with the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Nigeria Integrated System Operator to resolve other issues. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has been tasked with expediting the review of the tariffs of the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Nigeria Integrated System Operator to enable the implementation of the report. The Memorandum of Understanding also states that no employee will be victimized for participating in the industrial action.
The strike had threatened the country’s fragile power supply, with the National Union of Electricity Employees embarking on the action in a notice dated Wednesday. However, the President of the Nigerian Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, clarified that the outage in parts of Abuja and its environs was due to an operational challenge by the distribution company, not a national grid shutdown. The suspension of the strike action averts a potential nationwide blackout, providing relief to consumers who rely on a stable power supply. The development is significant, as it ensures the continued operation of essential services and prevents disruptions to economic activities. The next steps will involve the implementation of the agreed-upon measures, which will be crucial in maintaining a stable power supply in Nigeria.
