Mkpoikana Udoma
06 September 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The National Union of Electricity Employers, NUEE, have vowed to resist constant harassment of electricity workers by angry consumers over epileptic power supply by the distribution companies.
NUEE made this known at the first sensitisation and familiarisation meeting with electricity workers under the employment of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC.
Rivers State Organising Secretary of NUEE, Mr. Innocent LordDouglas, particularly frowned at customers’ attack, molestation and intimidation of electricity workers during bill distribution and power disconnection exercises.
LordDouglas said the union was liaising with community chiefs and security agencies in the state to ensure that those who attacked electricity workers were apprehended and dealt with according to the law.
He expressed sadness that electricity workers, who have already been impoverished by their employers, still had to suffer attacks from consumers.
He urged the electricity consumers to channel their complaints to the management of PHEDC, rather than attacking field workers who are on legitimate duty.
“We are going to the communities and beckon on them to stop harassing our members, even local government authorities should take it as a point of concern and stop this kind of inhumane act.
“We will not hesitate to work with the management of PHEDC to either stop supply to areas that have our members beaten up,” he said.
He added: “As a union we have the right to protect our members not only in the work place but also even outside the workplace. We will liaise with the police and other security agencies to ensure that such actions (harassment of our members) will be stopped forthwith.
“Of a truth, the power sector in the country has not done well and it is affecting everybody, but that doesn’t mean we should take laws into our hands. Meanwhile these people that are being attacked are people who have already being impoverished by their management.
“Nobody has any right to waylaid, harass or intercept any of our members that are outside doing their legitimate business.”
