Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar D. Aliyu, on Tuesday, said the industrial crisis that shutdown operations of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has been resolved and power outages in Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi states ended.
The ministry resolved disagreement that led the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to shut down all operations of AEDC indefinitely for most parts of Monday, December 6.
On Monday, areas serviced by the AEDC were thrown into darkness following an industrial action by NUEE.
The workers claimed they have been owed allowances for the past 18 months, salaries and unremitted pension deductions.
A statement from the minister’s office said: “On the directives of the Minister of Power Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, the Minister of State for Power led the meeting of all stakeholders in Abuja, which resolved all the areas of disagreement and set out timeline for addressing all outstanding issues.”
“An expansive meeting between the leadership of NUEE and relevant government institutions in the power sector over the industrial action which affected the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) franchise area regarding the unresolved dispute with the management of AEDC over unpaid entitlements, it was resolved that; Government intervened with the firm arrangement to ensure the payment of the outstanding entitlements of AEDC staff within twenty one (21) days counting from the date of the signing of this MOU,” the statement said.
It said the industrial action was immediately suspended and power restored to all the franchise areas of AEDC.
The meeting was led by the Minister of State for Power, Mr. Goddy Jeddy Agba. Those in attendance were representatives of the industrial unions and other stakeholders like BPE and NERC.
Engr. Aliyu assured that he will continue to address all grey areas to ensure that the power sector reforms embarked upon by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administrations fully transforms the sector.