Showdown with el Rufai, KDSG; NLC forces power company to stop transmission to Kaduna

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has forced the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to switch off power transmission to Kaduna state, the company has said.

The NLC is embroiled in a trade dispute with the government, which the National Union of Petroleum and Gas (NUPENG) has joined in and is beginning to tell in fuel Filling stations as queues begin to build.

The Labour Congress declared a 5-day warning strike intended to force the government to recall sacked workers put at tens of thousands.

TCN in a statement Sunday said it had since Saturday resisted pressures from the NLC to switch of transmission to Kaduna state but had to succumb to the Labour’s intense threats in order to prevent escalation that could “jeopardize national grid security.”

In the statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN said the System Operators were forced to shut down the 33kV feeders at about 6.30 am Sunday following Labour’s encounter with it.

According to Mrs Mbah, “the ongoing industrial action by the Nigerian Labour Congress in Kaduna State, resulted in the interruption of bulk electricity supply within the state early this morning.

“TCN had resisted intense pressure from the Union yesterday, demanding that all 33kV feeders radiating from our substations within Kaduna State be switched off.

“Regrettably, the Union functionaries returned today with similar demands amid palpable threats that could escalate and jeopardize national grid security. It was during this morning’s encounter that the System Operators were forced to shut down the 33kV feeders from 6:36Hrs this morning. Before this, KAEDCO had earlier shut down its 11kV feeders, which it started de-loading from 3 am this morning.

“TCN is mindful of the inconveniences this would cause electricity customers within the state and pray for a peaceful resolution between the parties, to enable the restoration of bulk power supply to our substations for Kaduna Disco to take to its electricity customers. Please bear with us.”