Blackout looms as electricity workers embark on nationwide strike

Nigerians may face power outages in the coming days as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has started a strike.

The union said the strike began on Wednesday because the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) failed to meet their demands.

These demands include the payment of the national minimum wage, ending the casualisation of workers, providing tools and safety equipment, and settling unpaid salaries since April 2025.

In a notice signed by NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, the union explained that TCN has ignored these issues for too long.

“It is unfortunate that TCN management has treated these matters with little seriousness and has no clear plan to solve them.

We cannot sit and watch while our rights are violated and the electricity industry collapses.

For this reason, our members are directed to stop work until management meets its responsibilities,” the statement said.

The union also listed other problems, including lack of operational vehicles, non-payment of retirement benefits, and unresolved issues from TCN’s unbundling.

This is not the first time NUEE has gone on strike. In June 2024, a similar action disrupted electricity supply across the country.

At the time of this report, TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, had not responded to calls from Newsmen.