TCN Shuts Down Power Grid, Plunges Nigeria Into Darkness Over NLC Strike

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN has shut down the power grid, resulting in nationwide blackout following the declaration of an indefinite strike by the organized labour unions.

Ndidi Mbah, the spokesperson for the company, confirmed this to newsmen on Tuesday.

According to her, electricity workers, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), followed directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress to withdraw their services around 11:20 am on Monday, leading to a nationwide blackout.

“Electricity workers are NLC members; they’ve followed the directive by organized labour to withdraw their services from Tuesday”, she stated.

The Federal Capital Territory and its environs are experiencing a blackout.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress announced a nationwide indefinite strike starting Tuesday despite a court order restraining the unions from doing so.

Reacting to the development, the Presidency, in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, said strike action by unions was a flagrant disobedience to court order and a lack of respect for the judiciary.

Accordingly, the government expressed displeasure that the nation’s economy and social activities should not suffer because of the personal interest of any labour leader.

The unions had last week issued a nationwide strike notice over an assault on Joe Ajaero, the President of NLC, on November 1 2023, in Imo State.