In line with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) directive to strike on Monday over the new minimum wage, electricity workers have shut down the National Grid, causing a nationwide blackout.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) revealed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, on Monday morning.
According to TCN, workers were forced out of their duty posts, and some were beaten and injured at various power facilities. TCN’s attempts to restore the grid have been hindered by the unionists.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby informs the general public that the Labour Union has shut down the national grid, resulting in a nationwide blackout. The national grid shutdown occurred at approximately 2:19 am this morning, June 3, 2024.
“At about 1:15 am, the Benin Transmission Operator, under TCN’s Independent System Operations unit, reported that all operators were expelled from the control room, and those who resisted were beaten and injured. Consequently, the Benin Area Control Center was brought to zero without any control or supervision.
“Other transmission substations shut down by the Labour Union include Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, and Osogbo. Some transmission lines were also opened due to the union’s activities.
“On the power generation side, generating units from various stations were forced to shut down. The Jebba Generating Station had to shut down one unit, and three more units followed due to high frequency, leading to system instability and the eventual grid shutdown at 2:19 am.
“However, at about 3:23 am, TCN began grid recovery using the Shiroro Substation to attempt to supply electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation. Despite our efforts, the Labour Union continues to obstruct grid recovery nationwide.
“We will continue striving to recover and stabilize the grid to restore normal bulk electricity transmission to distribution load centers across the nation,” TCN stated.