Defer handing over of PHCN to investors, TUC tells FG

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to defer the proposed handover date of Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s successor companies to their new owners until all agreements with the unions are met.

The government had proposed November 1 as the date for the handover of the successor companies to their new investors.

TUC’s Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Simeso Amachree, made the call in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

He said: “It will be unfair if the government go ahead with the hand over, without first settling all the workers.

“What is the hurry about? We are not opposed to privatisation if it is in the best interest of Nigerians and the country.

“But the workers must be paid their entitlements before the handover, ’’ he said.

Amachree said the government must be seen to deal fairly and transparently with the workers, to avoid unpleasant consequences.

“We will not hesitate to call out our other affiliates in other sectors to join in the struggle, because an injury to one is an injury to all,’’ he warned.

Amachree said the unions would engage in peaceful and legal means to compel the government to honour its agreement with them.

“We have decided to stage protests and eventually embark on total strike, if the government reneges on its agreement,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the contending issues include the non-payment of retirement savings to pension fund administrators and non-remittance of dues of two per cent deducted from workers’ salaries to the unions.

Others are the non-payment of benefits of retirees who disengaged in 2011, non-regularisation of the service of some casual workers and the non-payment of the severance package to some of the workers.