Reps to intervene in FG, NUEE rift

By EMMAN OVUAKPORIE
ABUJA— THE House of Representatives, Wednesday , resolved to intervene in the lingering industrial crisis in the power sector as a move to forestall the looming strike planned by the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE.

In its resolution on a motion moved by Mr Tajudeen Yususf under matters of urgent public importance, the leadership of the House has been urged to dialogue with NUEE, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and all stakeholder agencies in order to prevent the strike.

Also, the Reps gave the Federal Ministry Works two weeks to provide it with reasons on why the contract for the rehabilitation of the Benin-Okene road had not been implemented years after it was allegedly awarded.

Yusuf had in moving the motion, urged the House to intervene on the demand by workers in the power sector for 50 percent pay-off emoluments as government deregulates the sector, consequent upon which a one-day warning strike has been planned by the union, explain that the effect of a total shut down of power in the country would be disastrous.

The negotiated 50 percent emolument had been a subject of dispute between the workers and the federal government for some time now.
It will however be recalled that based on the directive by the Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, a meeting was held on Tuesday the 28th of June, 2011 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to fast-track the implementation of the negotiated agreement between the Federal Government and Labour Unions in the power sector.

Contributing to debate on the motion, former Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Mr Patrick Ikhariale however stated that the fears being expressed by workers in the sector over government’s deregulation efforts were not 100 percent genuine, noting that reversing the process would take the country 10 years backward from what have been achieved so far since 2002 when the deregulation process began.

Ikhariale said that while he was not opposed to the idea of advising the workers, as well as appealing to their consciences, there was need for caution.

Aminu Suleiman however opposed the submissions of Ikhariale, accusing the federal government of insincerity to implementing the agreement reached with the workers’ union. “If we allow complete privatisation of the sector as presently constituted, the whole workers stand the risk of losing their jobs,” he stated and advised that the immediate intervention be made, while a permanent solution is also worked out.

Others who spoke on the motion were Mohammed Wudil, Zakari Mohammedrepresenting Biratin/Kaima in Kwara and Babatunde Adejare.

Mr Abubakar Momoh, a member of the House had in a motion titled “Devastating Gully Erosion threatening to cut off the Benin Okene Road..,” informed the House that the portion of the highway which linked states in the South-South and the South East to Abuja now posed danger to motorists due to deep gullies which have taken over more than half of the road.

The House has also directed the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to as a matter of urgency, immediately commence repairs on the road, and all other federal roads in the country which are in similar state.