The ongoing face-off between workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria and the Federal Government over the power sector reforms has yet to abate as thousands of protesting workers were locked out of the company’s premises at Maitama, Abuja, by security operatives in Abuja on Wednesday.
As the soldiers occupied the PHCN headquarters, the workers and the Minister of Power, Prof. Bath Nnaji, engaged in war of words.
While workers insisted that the government must resume negotiations with them, the Minister said they were agents of generators and diesel importers, who did not want improved power supply.
The minister, who spoke through his media aide, said, “They are working for importers of generators and diesel who would not want improvement in the power sector.”
As early as 7am on Wednesday, security operatives comprising men of the Nigerian Army and the Police led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sunday Odukoya, had taken over the premises of the national headquarters of the PHCN to prevent workers from entering their offices.
