National blackout is likely as electricity workers in Abuja, Osogbo, other cities join NLC strike

The National Union of Electricity Employees’ decision to join the warning strike announced by the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday has caused power outages in Abuja, Osogbo, and other states.

Other states on Tuesday also had extended power disruptions, with no explanation from the distribution providers.

NLC claims the strike is in retaliation for President Bola Tinubu’s elimination of fuel subsidies on May 29 and its detrimental effects.

Checks show that several Osogbo Region Transmission Company of Nigeria employees were barred from the building.

Additionally, while some Osogbo commercial bank branches were closed to customers, others were open for business.

The state capital’s Old Garage, Ola-Iya, and Oke Fia Areas also had security presence.

Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company’s head office in Osogbo, however, had a sealed entrance and a staff member who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed that the employees had also joined the warning strike.

The removal of fuel subsidies and the government’s lack of clear plans to mitigate the effects of the removal and lessen the hardship it has caused have angered some electricity workers at the Osogbo Region Transmission Company of Nigeria. They expressed concern that there may be a disruption in power supply as a result of the strike.

Sodiq Adewale, the group’s state chairman, claimed that because his union is an affiliate of the NLC, its members cooperated with the order to put down their tools.