Our lives are in danger, electricity union leaders allege

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has raised an alarm over alleged threats on the lives of some of its leaders, including Joe Ajaero, general-secretary of the union.

The union said it started noticing suspicious movements around its national secretariat after its members picketed the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) over the sacking of 400 workers.

NUEE claimed that efforts have been made to monitor the movements of Ajaero, warning “anyone or group conceiving and driving this evil” to desist.

“We have noticed the unusual, ungodly and suspicious conclave and movement of individuals and persons around our national secretariat. Observant security personnel of our union have reported attempts to accost these individuals who unfortunately scurried away surreptitiously before our men could apprehend them for questioning. The tempo of these incidences has increased over time,” the union said in a statement.

“It is important to state that these provocative movements have increased since the last picketing exercise of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (a subsidiary of the Sahara Group) by workers in the power sector to protest the illegal sacking of about 400 workers of the company.

“We do not know whether this is a coincidence but we have also observed that the enquiry to know the movement or itinerary of Comrade Joe Ajaero’s movement from people around him directly or indirectly has intensified and expanded.

“The source(s) of these threats may not be far-fetched following the recent developments in the power sector and our determination towards ensuring that the rights and privileges of workers in the sector are not trampled upon with disdain and Nigerians get proportionate services for their money.”

NUEE said it had withstood oppression from previous governments in the past and will not bow to any pressure.

“We do not want to believe that this nation can be drawn back to the forlorn years of wickedness under Abacha’s jackboot, the impunity that characterised the IBB era and the degradation and perfidy that was pervasive during the years of Obasanjo to Jonathan’s leadership,” the statement read.

“We survived all these forces of retrogression; we shall overcome these ones too.

“Our struggle is to ensure an equitable and fair workplace not only for Nigerian workers but to create an egalitarian society that will bequeath unto us a nation that guarantees the basic necessities of life to all Nigerians.

“We want to state however, that nobody should be deceived, no amount of threat, harassment and intimidation will deter us from pursuing the cause which history and the objective realities of this nation has foisted upon us. Nothing will make us abdicate our civic and moral responsibility to Nigerian workers and peoples; NO, not even the present threat to our lives as all lives are in the hands of the Almighty God. This unfortunately is a path we have had to travel in the past.”