Nigeria's Electricity Workers Pause Strike for Two Weeks

On Thursday, Nigerian electricity workers suspended a nationwide strike that began Wednesday, causing blackouts and worsening power supply in parts of the most populous African country.

RELATED:

Nigeria: Windstorm Leaves Six Fatalities

Joe Ajaero, secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), said that the strike was suspended for two weeks after a meeting with government negotiators led by Labor Minister Chris Ngige late Wednesday.

"The government has promised to resolve the issues raised by the union within two weeks. If our demands are not met, the strike will resume," Ajaero, adding that the union and the government had agreed to set up a bipartite committee to analyze the issues raised by the electricity workers.

The NUEE said that it had withdrawn its services at the headquarters of the Transmission Company in Abuja, calling for payment of outstanding arrears owed to workers, reversal of promotion interviews for acting principal managers, among other long-pending issues.

The strike, following a two-week ultimatum by the NUEE, was in line with a directive of the union's national leadership. Transmission stations were picketed Wednesday to disrupt the electricity supply.

Parts of the country began to bear the brunt of power blackouts due to the strike Wednesday. Ajaero said electricity would be restored across the nation from Thursday.

Power Minister Abubakar Aliyu said that the government was working to resolve the crisis, adding that consultations were ongoing among critical stakeholders in the power sector to address the issue and restore supply.