Electricity Workers Call Off Strike, Restore Power Supply Across Nigeria

The nationwide blackout that gripped Nigeria over the past 48 hours has begun to ease after the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) announced the suspension of its strike on Wednesday night. The strike, which had thrown homes, businesses, and industries into darkness, was called off following a marathon meeting between electricity sector unions and the Federal Government in Abuja.

The industrial action began after unresolved disputes over workers’ welfare, pension entitlements, and stalled negotiations on salary reviews. The strike led to the shutdown of several critical facilities across the country, including transmission substations operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). This forced the national grid to collapse, plunging the country into a total blackout for the second time in weeks.

Union leaders explained that the strike was necessary to compel the government and management of electricity companies to honor longstanding agreements. They accused stakeholders in the power sector of neglecting critical welfare issues affecting workers, such as unpaid entitlements, poor working conditions, and failure to address pension shortfalls. The unions also faulted the slow pace of reforms in the electricity industry, insisting that workers had borne the brunt of inefficiencies in the sector.

However, after hours of negotiation with senior government officials, including representatives of the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, a truce was reached. NUEE announced it would suspend the strike for two weeks to allow for further dialogue, with the condition that government agencies and electricity companies must demonstrate genuine commitment to resolving the outstanding issues.

The strike had triggered widespread public outcry as households and businesses, already struggling with high energy costs and poor supply, were forced to resort to alternative power sources such as generators. Small and medium enterprises reported significant losses, while manufacturers lamented that the shutdown had disrupted production schedules. The blackout also compounded the challenges faced by hospitals, banks, and other critical service providers that depend heavily on uninterrupted power.

The Federal Government expressed relief at the suspension of the strike, acknowledging that the blackout had strained economic activity nationwide. Officials from the Ministry of Power promised to fast-track discussions with the unions and ensure that commitments made at the negotiation table were fully implemented. They also appealed to electricity workers to prioritize national interest as talks continue, stressing that industrial harmony is essential for achieving the government’s goal of improved power supply.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, who chaired the negotiation, said both parties agreed to set up a monitoring committee to track the implementation of the resolutions reached. The committee will include representatives of the unions, the Ministry of Power, and the electricity companies, ensuring accountability in meeting deadlines for payments and policy actions.

Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria confirmed that power restoration was already underway in key parts of the country. Engineers have been mobilized to restart substations and stabilize the national grid, with priority given to critical infrastructure such as airports, hospitals, and water treatment plants. Power supply is expected to normalize fully in the coming days as operations return to regular schedules.

Industry experts believe the strike highlights deeper issues plaguing Nigeria’s power sector, including poor investment in infrastructure, high debt levels, and tariff disputes between regulators, companies, and consumers. They warned that unless reforms are accelerated, industrial actions like this could become more frequent, further undermining efforts to stabilize power supply in Africa’s largest economy.

Consumer groups have also weighed in, urging the Federal Government and electricity companies to focus on resolving the root causes of inefficiencies in the sector. They argued that while workers’ welfare is important, Nigerians continue to suffer from unreliable power despite frequent tariff increases. Many called for greater transparency in how funds collected from consumers are used to improve infrastructure and service delivery.

For now, Nigerians are relieved that power is gradually being restored. However, there remains widespread skepticism about whether the government and electricity unions will keep their promises. Past negotiations have often ended in unfulfilled agreements, raising concerns that the current truce may only provide temporary relief unless concrete action follows.

The suspension of the strike comes at a critical time for the economy, which is still grappling with inflationary pressures and high operational costs for businesses. Analysts say that uninterrupted electricity supply is essential for economic recovery, as it reduces reliance on expensive alternative energy sources and supports industrial productivity.

In the coming weeks, attention will turn to whether the Federal Government can deliver on its commitments to electricity workers while also pushing ahead with reforms that guarantee reliable and affordable power for consumers. The outcome of these negotiations may determine not only labor relations in the power sector but also the trajectory of Nigeria’s broader economic performance.