4th May, 2012
The premises of Ikeja Distribution Company of PHCN was on Thursday barricaded by members of the Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) protesting over non-payment salaries.
Mr. Etukubes Mbang, the Vice-Chairman of Lagos/Ogun Chapter of the union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the workers were protesting against non-payment of five months’ salaries.
According to him, the workers are also protesting the refusal of management to transfer allowances of those that were moved from one location to another.
He said that some workers were still not receiving their salaries after the completion of the biometrics exercise.
Mbang said that the outstanding salaries were more than N390 million.
Mr. Chris Akamnonu, the Chief Executive of the company, told NAN on phone that the management was working on the matter and the issues would be addressed soon.
He said that the protest had not affected power supply to customers in the unit.
According to him, the protest was mainly on the biometrics exercise which affected payment of some workers’ salaries.
“The non-payment of salaries affected just a small proportion of the workers and which we are working on.
“The case has been resolved now and the workers have gone back to their various offices.
“Over 3,400 workers have been paid,” he said.
NAN recalls that Professor Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power, had said that any PHCN worker who failed to appear for the biometrics verification would not be paid.