Nigeria narrowly escaped a nationwide blackout on Thursday as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) suspended their strike after 10 hours of intense negotiations with the Federal Government and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The industrial action, which began early Thursday, was halted following an emergency meeting in Abuja, sparing millions of households and businesses from crippling power disruptions.
The strike was triggered by unresolved issues, including unpaid salaries since April 2025, non-implementation of the new national minimum wage, casualization of staff, lack of operational tools and vehicles, and failure to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) since 2021. Additional grievances included outstanding retirement benefits and unresolved matters from TCN’s unbundling.
In a circular dated September 24, 2025, NUEE’s acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, accused TCN management of neglecting workers’ welfare and allowing the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to deteriorate, prompting the indefinite withdrawal of services.
The emergency meeting, convened by the Minister of Power and represented by senior ministry officials, included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, TCN management, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), NUEE, and SSAEAC. After hours of deliberation, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, outlining key resolutions to address the workers’ demands.
According to the communiqué, the unions agreed to the Minister’s appeal to review a standing committee’s report by October 6–7, 2025, with implementation slated for later that month.
TCN and NISO were tasked with evaluating the financial implications of the report and preparing an implementation plan for submission to the Minister and the unions.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was directed to expedite its tariff review to facilitate the agreement’s execution. Crucially, all parties agreed that no employee would face victimization for participating in the strike.
The unions described the outcome as a “measured victory” but warned they would resume industrial action if the government or TCN fails to honor the MoU. “We cannot continue to fold our arms while our rights are trampled upon,” Igwebike stated, emphasizing the union’s resolve to ensure compliance.
The suspension has eased widespread anxiety across Nigeria, where fears of a prolonged blackout had unsettled citizens and businesses already grappling with erratic power supply.
The success of the MoU’s implementation will be critical to sustaining stability in the sector. For now, Nigerians await the government’s next steps, with the unions poised to reconvene and address any outstanding issues.
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