By Meletus EZE
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Electricity sector, has urged the Federal Government to intervene in the ongoing leadership crisis within the union to forestall a major crisis in the electricity sector.
Chairman of NUP, Mr Idi Bawa, made the call when the union members staged a protest to kick against plans to establish a parallel leadership of the union on Thursday in Abuja.
Bawa, therefore, said the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, must shun the temptation of registering a parallel union of electricity pensioners.
The chairman explained that the leadership of the union was reliably informed that plans were underway to register the Chief Temple Ubani-led group to operate side-by-side with the existing union.
“We hereby caution Dr. Ngige to desist from any act or acts that will not only bring his office to disrepute but also serve as a bad precedence in the annals of trade unionism,’’ he said.
Bawa said Ubani in defiance of disciplinary action taken against him in accordance with the regulations of the constitution of the union had pulled out of the union to form an association called “ESREWA’’.
He said the association was meant to run parallel with the union, adding that such an act if allowed would tantamount to illegality.
“In all circumstances, rule of law must prevail in accordance with the change mantra of the present government.
“We, therefore, urge President Muhammadu Buhari to personally intervene in the attempt to willful invoke crisis in the power sector.
“We are loyal union and, therefore, want the government to stop the pending fragmentation of our union,’’ Bawa said.
It would be recalled that members of the union in their hundreds were seen carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
TBI Africa reports some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “ Nigeria Union of Pensioners Electricity Sector Rejects Ubani, “We reject Esrewa,’’ “Ngige don’t divide the electricity sector.”
The minister was neither on ground nor sent a representative to address the protesters.
