OpeOluwani Akintayo
Lagos — The General Secretary, National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE; Comrade Joe Ajaero has threatened that members of the union may be forced to embark on strike to protect its members against coronavirus.
Ajaero made this known on Wednesday in a letter to the Minister of Power; Sule Mamman, after he resumed work on March 23 from a trip to Germany as well as Egpyt.
He alleged that the minister did not self isolate himself for the compulsory 14 days adding that the minister will be solely responsible for the transmission of coronavirus to staff in the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.
By this action, Ajaero said the minister has failed to provide adequate precautionary measures to protect staff and would face consequences for his failure to comply with the Federal Government directive.
“Our attention has been drawn to the return of the Minister of Power; Sule Mamman, from his trip to Germany and Egypt; while on the entourage of the Chief of Staff to the President.
“The minister despite the president’s directive to self-isolate reported at the office; in the midst of agitation and complaints from the staff at TCN Headquarters in Abuja.
“If not for the intervention of the union; there would have been pandemonium at the office, on March 23.
“In view of recent developments; the union wishes to state unequivocally that the minister will be held responsible for the transmission of COVID-19 to any staff in TCN.”
According to Ajaero, the minister did not comply with the federal government directive to self-isolate after traveling to high-risk countries.
He said the union was giving employers in the power sector whose staff constantly interface with customers and also the public; 24-hours to put adequate precautionary measures in place to protect staff.
Ajaero said the union would be forced to pull out its members and also would not be held responsible for any consequence resulting from its actions.
He advised employers in the sector to ensure the safety of its members against the virus.