Organised Labour in the nation’s power sector will soon publish names of workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, sacked without being paid their severance benefits by the Federal Government, despite claims by the government that almost all, if not all had been paid.
Reliable sources told Vanguard, yesterday, that at the expiration of November 15 deadline promised by the Federal Government to pay all workers of the defunct PHCN their severance benefits, labour under the aegis National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, commenced the compilation of affected workers in Lagos, on Monday.
A labour leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed Vanguard’s report that at least 7,000 ex-workers have not been paid a dime.
According to him: “Preliminary data gathered across the country, points to not less than 7,000 workers that have not been paid a dime. In the same vein, about 30,000 were partly paid their severance benefits.”
Confirming the development, General Secretary of NUEE, Mr. Joe Ajaero said though the ultimatum issued to government over the matter including sack of union leaders expired last Friday, the union was giving the government the benefit of doubt as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power was said to be out of the country and expected back before the end of the week. [Vanguard]