President Jonathan:"Labour Issues Won't Disrupt Power Assets Handover "

Labour issues, as regards payment of workers’ entitlements, will not hinder the Federal Government from handing over the privatised power generation and distribution companies to private investors in two weeks’ time, President Goodluck Jonathan has said. 

The President while speaking at the inauguration of the 500-megawatts Omotosho 11 power plant in Ondo State on Saturday, said there was no need for any industrial action from the workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Acording to him, “Power assets will be physically handed over to the private sector in two weeks’ time. Labour issues will be fully resolved and all entitlements will be paid. There is no need for industrial demonstration.”
Workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees had kicked against the handing over of the power assets to private investors without complete settlement of workers’ entitlement.
Jonathan said, “This event is part of our efforts to provide adequate and sustainable power supply in our country.
“We would have finished the inauguration of the 10 NIPPs before the end of the first quarter of next year.
“The decision to privatise the power sector was made for the long term benefit of our nation.”
The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said the new Omotosho power plant would spur development of transmission infrastructure that would ensure that the power generated got to the end users.

Source: Punch Nigeria
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