08 August 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – THE Canadian company, Manitoba Hydro International, contracted by the Nigerian government to manage the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, on a three-year agreement, is yet to take over management of the TCN more than a week after it was planned to do so.
The company, expected to bring the all-important efficiency to Nigeria’s troubled power sector management, have had to soft-pedal on taking over at TCN due to the hostility of the electricity workers at the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, head office in Abuja, which also houses TCN.
The electricity workers, under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, have prevented Manitoba staff from gaining access to the PHCN premises by locking up the gates.
Fearing for their lives, Manitoba workers have also refused to resume work at the PHCN head office despite the presence of military men sent by the government to ease the takeover.
The Canadian company was originally scheduled to take over management of the TCN on July 31, 2012, according to terms of the N3.72 billion ($23.72 million) three years transmission management contract it signed with the government.
