Nationwide Blackout Threat Averted as Electricity Workers Suspend Strike After Federal Government Intervention

The threat of a crippling nationwide blackout was narrowly averted on Thursday after the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) suspended its indefinite strike, following an emergency intervention by the Federal Government. The strike, which began on Wednesday, September 24, had already begun to disrupt operations across the power sector, raising public alarm over an impending collapse of the national grid.

The industrial action was called by the NUEE against the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) over a list of long-standing welfare and operational issues. The union accused the TCN management of “treating staff concerns with kid gloves” and a blatant disregard for workers’ rights. The core demands fueling the strike included the non-implementation of the National Minimum Wage, the casualisation of staff, non-payment of salaries owed since April 2025, and the failure to provide essential working tools and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) since 2021.

In a swift response to the crisis, the Minister of Power, through senior ministry officials, convened an emergency meeting with representatives from NUEE, the TCN, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. After hours of intense deliberation, a truce was reached.

According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the union agreed to the Minister’s appeal to suspend the industrial action. The key resolution involves a commitment from both sides to review the report of a standing committee on the grievances by October 6–7, 2025, with the aim of commencing implementation later that same month. The parties also agreed that no employee would face victimisation for participating in the strike.

While the strike has been suspended, labor leaders described the outcome as a “measured victory,” cautioning that they would not hesitate to resume the industrial action should the government or TCN renege on the new agreement. This latest episode underscores the volatile state of industrial relations and infrastructure challenges within Nigeria’s struggling power sector.