In compliance with the joint directive from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to strike on Monday over the new minimum wage, electricity workers have shut down the National Grid, resulting in a nationwide blackout.
This was announced by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, on Monday morning.
The TCN reported that workers were driven from their posts and some were beaten and injured at various power facilities. It added that all attempts to recover the grid were being thwarted by the union members.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby informs the general public that the Labour Union has shut down the national grid, causing a nationwide blackout. The grid shutdown occurred at about 2:19am this morning, June 3, 2024.
“At about 1:15am this morning, the Benin Transmission Operator under the Independent System Operations unit of TCN reported that all operators were driven away from the control room. Staff who resisted were beaten, and some were injured in the process, leading to the Benin Area Control Center being brought to zero without any supervision.
“Other transmission substations shut down by the Labour Union include Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, and Osogbo Transmission Substations. Some transmission lines were also opened due to the union’s activities.
“On the power generation side, units from various generating stations were forced to shut down. The Jebba Generating Station had to shut down one of its units, while three others at the same station shut down due to high frequency and system instability, which ultimately led to the national grid shutdown at 2:19am.
“At about 3:23am, TCN began grid recovery efforts using the Shiroro Substation to attempt to feed the transmission lines supplying bulk electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation. However, the Labour Union continues to obstruct grid recovery efforts nationwide.
“We will continue to make efforts to recover and stabilize the grid to restore normal bulk transmission of electricity to distribution load centers nationwide,” TCN stated.
