The Ondo State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Electricity Workers yesterday in Akure protested over non-payment of severance entitlements of some workers and the fixed charge on consumers.
The protest affected free-flow of traffic along NEPA Road and office of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions like: “All outstanding allowances must be paid” and “Stop payment of slave wage to electricity workers”, among others.
Mrs Bosede Daramola, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ondo, said that the protest was a struggle against the pains being inflicted by government and private investors on consumers.
“We are against the payment of fixed charge on a meter on monthly basis.
“This extortion must stop; there is also poor power supply and one cannot boast of two-hour power supply in Ondo State.
“Some of the disengaged workers of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are yet to be paid and those who have been paid only received half of their entitlements.
“Besides, all the workers’ unions in the defunct PHCN have been banned by the new investors.
“This is against the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention and the constitution of Nigeria which allow freedom of association,” Daramola said.
She said that both workers and the public were being defended because NLC was also a mouthpiece of the public. (NAN)
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