TCN, Ondo Primary School Teachers Shun Strike

By Ayodele Oni

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has distanced itself from a  publication which claimed a nationwide electricity blackout was imminent following the industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Recall that many affiliates of organized labour, on Tuesday, complied with the strike directive and suspended their services.

TCN, has swiftly denied that it joined in the strike, stating that there is no truth in a media report about a looming national blackout.

The TCN stressed that the assertion which claimed that the Head of Public Affairs of TCN had predicted a nationwide power outage, is incorrect and deceptive.

In a statement released by the TCN management and posted on its official X account on Tuesday, it was clarified that the Public Affairs Head did not make any such statement.

The statement further revealed that the country’s power grid is fully functional and continues to consistently supply significant electricity to distribution load centres throughout the nation.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that the publication alleging that the Head of Public Affairs of TCN said that there will be a national blackout is false and totally misleading.

“The statement is mischievous and baseless as TCN, through the Public Affairs Head, did not make such a statement.

“We hereby note that the nation’s grid is intact and supplying bulk electricity to distribution load centres nationwide.

“As of when issuing this statement, the TCN National Control Centre Osogbo, which controls bulk power transmission nationwide, is actively operational.”

In Ondo state, there are conflicting report on the strike as the organized labour claimed its success, while another report stated that pupils and teachers in primary schools were at school on Tuesday.

In a statement by the State Universal Basic Education Board, it commended teachers especially those in Public Primary Schools across the State for being in Schools doing their jobs despite the indefinite strike called by the Labour  to press home their demands.

The Executive Chairman Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB Victor Olabimtan lauded the teachers for displaying uncommon dedication to duty and loyalty to the present Administration.

He enjoined the teachers to continue to do their jobs to the best of their abilities as the government will always prioritize their welfare.

However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced that members joined the ongoing and indefinite nationwide Strike as directed by the national secretariats of the two bodies.

In a Press Release signed by the State NLC Chairman, Victor Amoko and the TUC Chairman,  Clement Fatuase, workers in the State are advised to comply with the strike directive appropriately.

Both NLC and TUC leadership as well as the State JNC Chairman, Ademola Olapade said the strike is basically on issues that affect the attack on the NLC President,  Joe Ajaero and non-implementation of some agreement reached with the Federal Government aftermath of fuel subsidy removal.

The Ondo organized labour insisted that the strike is not against the Ondo State government, but to protest against impunity in the country.

The leadership called on all affiliate executives to ensure strict compliance with the directive of the national body until the matter is resolved.