PHCN threatens to prosecute striking workers

The management of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria on Wednesday threatened to prosecute workers of the organisation who embarked on industrial action over the deployment of troops by the Federal Government to protect electricity installations across the country.The management, which accused the workers of sabotage, said in a statement that some of the workers had stopped going to their offices since Tuesday on the excuse that soldiers were guarding PHCN facilities.The statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday said the workers had no basis to embark on any strike since there was no trade dispute between them and the management of the organisation.It explained that in view of the fact that PHCN was the sole provider of electricity as an essential service to the whole nation, the current situation called for immediate remedy.The statement read in part, In furtherance of the foregoing, be informed that any strike or threat of strike at this time violates Section 47 of the Trade Dispute Act and Section 9(1) of the Trade Dispute (Essential Service) Act Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.It also violates the subsisting perpetual injunction issued by the Supreme Court in the case of the National Union of Electricity Employees et al Vs Bureau of Public Enterprise SC 52/2004.The PHCN management warned, The consequence of violation of existing laws of the Federation of Nigeria as cited above is that any staff who interrupts or disrupts electricity services, which act amount to economic sabotage, will be arrested and prosecuted under the law.The statement further warned that any worker who absented himself from work without legitimate authority stood a high risk of forfeiting his job in line with extant PHCN Conditions of Service (2010).Also on Wednesday, the Special Assistant on Labour Matters to the Minister of Power, Mr. Nick Agbo, said the strike called by NUEE was not only illegal, but constituted a grave danger to national security and to the countrys development.He said in a statement, The presence of military personnel in hotels and worship places has gone a long way to restore public confidence in the safety of these high-profile places.It is, therefore, improper for any person to reject, in the name of trade unionism, the presence of military men and women in power facilities, in which the nation has made huge investments over the decades. It has to be noted for the umpteenth time that the PHCN assets belong to the government of Nigeria, and not any trade unionist.
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