– Babatunde Raji Fashola has lamented that the frequent strikes embarked upon by workers and trade unions is taking a toll on the nations economy – Fashola blames the recent power outages in some parts of the country on the breakdown of four power turbines The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has revealed how Nigeria lost N7.7 billion to incessant strikes by workers and trade unions in the electricity sector.
Fashola spoke at the 3rd national triennial delegate conference of the senior staff association of electricity and allied Companies on Thursday, April 7. He said series of strike embarked upon by trade unions as a result of electricity tariffs and others had made the nation to record N7.7 billion losses. He cited the recent strike embarked upon by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff
Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over the unbundling of the NNPC, saying this led to the Shutdown of NGC pipelines affecting Egbin, Sapele I, Geregu I, Omotosho I, Omotosho NIPP, Olorunsogo I, Olorunsogo NIPP, Alaoji NIPP, Sapele NIPP, Ihovbor NIPP, among others.
“As a consequence of The NNPC strike, all plants primarily supplied gas by NGC were unable to generate gas on March 8th and 9th 2016. Generating plants reported increased constraints as early as March 8th 2016. As at 1500 hrs on March 09 2016, only the following plants were generating power: Omoku I, Trans Amadi, Afam SPDC, Okpai, Ughelli, Odukpani, Geregu NIPP and the Hydros (Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro).”The minister said the strike led to loss of N3.2 billion in just one day, adding that estimated loss due to gas withheld was an average of 1088MWH/H (on the conservative side) on March 8th. “The NCC reported total gas constraints of 3300MW on March 9thand 334MW in line constraints. Estimated gas unsold or lost was about 304mmsfcd. Due to the sudden drop in generation, the System Operator had difficulty maintaining grid stability, and was forced to request that DisCos shed load to avoid a collapse,” he said.
“I am sure that one year of uninterrupted production, dedicated service and creative dispute resolution can have a significant impact on power supply, if you see yourselves more as part of the government rather than more as union members. I invite you to claim your membership of Government with even greater pride than you claim your membership of unions,”he said. Meanwhile, Babatunde Fashola, has blamed the recent power outages in some parts of the country on the breakdown of four power turbines. Speaking on Channels Television on Thursday, March 31, Fashola said there is currently not enough power to distribute unless more turbines are switched on. He however assured Nigerians that electricity supply would be stabilized soon as three of the four turbines have been restored.
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