The National Union of Electricity Employees ( NUEE) on Monday cried out that up to 1,000 electricity workers disengaged from service four years ago had yet to receive their entitlements.
Speaking at a meeting held with union executives in Lagos, the President of the union, Mr Martin Uzoegwu, described the development as sad, saying that the Federal Government’s inability to pay the entitlements was worrisome.
“This is corruption and an unfair labour practice. We advise the government to put necessary machinery in place to ensure that these ex-workers receive their severance benefits.’’
The NUEE president said the objective of meeting with the union officials was to brainstorm on issues arising from privatisation and post-privatisation of the power sector.
In a solidarity message, Mr Didi Adodo, General Secretary of the United Labour Congress, said it was regrettable that even workers, who were still in service were not being paid their salaries.
Adodo advised workers in states not getting salaries to review their duty schedule and ensure that if after the 30th or 31st of each month their salaries were not paid, they should stop going to work.
He advised workers to vote for genuine leaders in the 2019 election and ensure that those who had refused to pay workers were voted out.
Other unionists and representatives from electricity distribution companies said that the meeting would boost partnership between workers and employers in the sector.
They agreed that the power sector was vital to development of Nigeria and that there was need to work together to develop the sector.