The Federal Government, over the weekend, issued a stern warning to electricity workers regarding the vandalism of the national grid during strikes.
It emphasized that such actions are not only illegal but also undermine efforts to provide a consistent power supply to the Nigerian population.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, expressed these concerns during his visit to the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s sub-regional office in Osogbo, Osun State.
He was inspecting the control center in preparation for its modern technology upgrade.
Adelabu stressed that industrial actions can be carried out without resorting to the destruction of the national grid.
He described unauthorized access to the National Control Centre as a criminal act and economic sabotage, urging workers to exercise caution during strikes.
He revealed that the government had already contacted the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ridabu, to bolster security at facilities nationwide.
In his word, “Industrial actions will be resolved whether we like it or not but in the course of the action, we must not destroy what we have. We need to talk to ourselves.
“It is regrettable that during the two-day warning strike, I learnt that the control centre was attacked. It is not the best for us as a country. These are things that baffle our international partners. We should see ourselves as defendants of our national assets.
“Once anything happens here, it touches every Nigerian and every household. If we touch the National Grid, the entire nation goes into a blackout. During industrial actions, let us be civil and protect what belongs to the entire country.
“Whatever our feelings are and whatever sympathy we have for anybody should not push us to destroy national assets.
“You can carry out industrial action without shutting down the grid, without vandalising the grid, the government will still listen to you.
“I am only pleading. You have your right to industrial action but don’t set the entire nation on total blackout. If you do, everybody will suffer, so that is like blackmailing the entire Nigeria.”