NEWS
National Grid Drops To Zero Megawatts Amid Labour Strike
The national grid system has fallen to zero megawatts following a total disruption of power supply to all eleven electricity distribution companies in the country.
On Monday, Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), issued a statement attributing the nationwide blackout to the actions of TCN staff.
Under the National Union of Electricity Workers (NUEE), the staff completely shut down all power substations across the country at approximately 2:19 AM, causing the grid to drop to zero megawatts.
Recall that the Labour Unions, after a four-hour meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on Sunday evening in Abuja, confirmed their commitment to the nationwide industrial action planned to begin on Monday.
Festus Osifo after the meeting with the National Assembly leadership “For now, we don’t have the power to call off the strike. Tomorrow (Monday) morning, the strike will kick off as we take their (NASS) plea asking us to call off the strike to our various organs.
Osifo, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and his counterpart in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, also met with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas in Abuja.
The meeting was a last-minute effort by legislators to persuade workers to cancel their planned strike for a new minimum wage.
The Organised Labour’s decision followed a deadlock with the Federal Government over a new national minimum wage and the reversal of the recent electricity tariff hike.
The labour unions stated that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is no longer sufficient for the average Nigerian worker’s well-being.
They also noted that not all governors are paying this wage, which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
This Act requires a review every five years to reflect contemporary economic demands.
Addressing the efforts to restore lost power generation, Mbah noted that at approximately 3:23 AM, TCN initiated grid recovery operations.
They used the Shiroro substation to supply electricity to the transmission lines serving the Katampe Transmission Substation.
The Labour Party (LP) has expressed regrets at naming Mike Igini as a member of its electoral reform committee, dropping him in the same breadth.
This was detailed in a statement issued on Thursday on the verified X handle of the party under the signature of its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh.
The party also promised to name Igini’s replacement at the inauguration of the committee.
He wrote, “This is to inform members of the public that there is a slight adjustment to the composition of the Electoral Reform Committee membership
“Mike Igini’s name was mistakenly included earlier as a member of the committee. We have however dropped his name and his replacement will be announced during the inauguration of the committee coming up very soon. We regret this mix up and has since tendered apologies to this very well respected Nigerian.”
Nigeria has successfully secured the bid to host the $5 billion African Energy Bank (AEB) headquarters, a global multilateral institution dedicated to financing Africa’s hydrocarbon resources and supporting the continent’s energy transition and net-zero commitments.
The announcement was made by Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, in Abuja on Thursday, following a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization and the Afrexim Bank, the joint promoters of the bank.
The hosting of AEB is expected to bring numerous benefits to Nigeria, including boosting the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), enhancing employment opportunities, and strengthening financial architecture and inclusion.
This significant development is anticipated to revolutionize Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, positioning the nation as a pivotal player in Africa’s energy landscape.
More to follow………..
With an Abuja High Court ruling, tending to throw the spanner into the works of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election, by nullifying the nomination of Asue Ighodalo as its candidate, the party has sued for calm.
While declaring total support for Ighodalo’s candidature, the Edo State Chapter of the PDP urged the party faithful to remain winning the main election, despite the ruling nullifying the party’s primary election held in Benin on February 22.
LP Drops, Regrets Naming Mike Igini In Electoral Reform Committee
Nigeria Secures Bid To Host African Energy Bank Headquarters
Shuaibu Applauds Downfall Of Edo PDP
Political Class Celebrates Nigeria’s Hosting Headquarters Of African Energy Bank
Edo PDP Backs Ighodalo, Despite Court Ruling
Rivers Political Turmoil: Pendulum Swings In Favour Wike’s Camp
Sahara’s Tonye Cole resigns from GPHCDA
Oando opens ultra-modern petrol station in Lagos
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