Nigerian Electricity Workers Suspend Nationwide Strike After Federal Government Intervention

Strike Commences Over Unresolved Disputes

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) initiated a nationwide strike on Wednesday, September 25, 2025, directing its members to withdraw services indefinitely. The action, which raised fears of a national blackout across Nigeria, stemmed from long-standing labour disputes and the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). Dominic Igwebike, the Acting General Secretary of NUEE, stated that the union 'cannot continue to fold our arms while we watch our rights being vehemently violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) going down the drain'.

The union accused TCN management of 'handling these issues with kid gloves' and demonstrating 'a lack of regard for the hardworking staff'. The industrial action notably led to the closure of the Osogbo Regional Office, a critical operational hub for TCN.

Key Demands of the Electricity Workers

The core grievances leading to the strike were comprehensive, focusing on welfare and operational concerns. The demands put forth by NUEE included:

• Non-implementation of the National Minimum Wage.
• The casualisation of workers.
• Non-provision of essential working tools and materials.
• Non-payment of staff salaries, some reportedly owed since April 2025.
• A critical lack of operational vehicles.
• Failure to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) since 2021.
• Unresolved issues stemming from the unbundling of TCN.
• Non-payment of outstanding retirement benefits.

This strike marked the second major industrial action by NUEE in just over a year, following a similar disruption in June 2024 that also led to widespread power outages and emergency government negotiations.

Federal Government Intervention and Resolution

A potential nationwide blackout was averted when the strike was suspended after approximately 10 hours on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The suspension followed an emergency meeting convened in Abuja by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, with support from the Federal Ministry of Labour. Representatives from NUEE, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), TCN, and the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) were present at the marathon discussions.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed late on Thursday night, outlining the terms for the strike's suspension. Key agreements reached include:

• Unions will review a committee report on workers' demands between October 6 and 7, 2025, with implementation slated to begin later that month.
• TCN and NISO are tasked with jointly assessing the financial implications of the report and preparing an implementation plan.
• The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has been directed to expedite tariff reviews for TCN and NISO to facilitate the execution of the agreement.
• A crucial clause in the MoU guarantees that no employee will face victimisation for their participation in the industrial action.

While the immediate threat of a national blackout has been diffused, stakeholders will closely monitor the implementation of the agreed-upon resolutions to ensure lasting stability in Nigeria's power sector.