Uncertainty Over Electricity Workers’ Fate As 6-month Contract Expires
There is now a high sense of uncertainty over the fate of the remaining electricity workers inherited from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, by successor companies, as their six months contracts expire this week.
The workers’ contracts were drawn to assist the new owners of the successor companies assess staff performances to help them determine the quality and quantity of staff required to run their respective operations.
The implication of the contract expiration gives liberty to the core investors to decide who stays and who leaves and on what terms.
Since the disbandment of the Transition Committees appointed by the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, for the successor companies, the core investors have constituted their owns managements and boards to take decisions for their operations.
Of the 18 successor companies, only Afam Power Station and the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company still have Transition Committees, which were appointed in February.
This is because of the late conclusion of the assets sale on account of delays in the payment of the mandatory fees by the core investors to enable them acquire the assets.
During the committees’ appointment, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, had noted that the tenure of the committee could be between one and six months before they can gain full management controls.
With the assumption of management control and expiration of the workers contracts, the core investors can now hire and fire and right-size their respective companies as they deemed fit.
Labour threatens
However, workers unions in the power sector vow to resist any attempt by the new asset owners to disengage the workers without proper negotiations
The workers’ contracts were drawn to assist the new owners of the successor companies assess staff performances to help them determine the quality and quantity of staff required to run their respective operations.
The implication of the contract expiration gives liberty to the core investors to decide who stays and who leaves and on what terms.
Since the disbandment of the Transition Committees appointed by the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, for the successor companies, the core investors have constituted their owns managements and boards to take decisions for their operations.
Of the 18 successor companies, only Afam Power Station and the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company still have Transition Committees, which were appointed in February.
This is because of the late conclusion of the assets sale on account of delays in the payment of the mandatory fees by the core investors to enable them acquire the assets.
During the committees’ appointment, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, had noted that the tenure of the committee could be between one and six months before they can gain full management controls.
With the assumption of management control and expiration of the workers contracts, the core investors can now hire and fire and right-size their respective companies as they deemed fit.
Labour threatens
However, workers unions in the power sector vow to resist any attempt by the new asset owners to disengage the workers without proper negotiations
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