How FG lost N7.7bn from 2014 to 2016 due to workers' strike

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said that the Federal Government lost N7.7 billion from 2014 to 2016 due to strikes by government workers.

As contained in a statement signed by the Minister on Thursday, April 7, the Federal Government lost N576 million from April 28 to May 2014 due to the strike by Benin Electricity Distribution Company staff union.

According to the Minister, the government on June 11, 2014 lost N66 million due NLC strike that resulted to sealing of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company office over sack of 134 workers inherited from PHCN.

He said government also lost N144 million due to strike by NLC from February 8 to 10, 2015 in Benin DISCO, adding that from May 7 to 9, 2015, the strike by Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) led to government losing N65 million.

Fashola also listed other losses incurred by the Federal Government due to incessant strikes in the energy sector, including the strike by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on May 22, 2015 which cost the government N2 billion.

He urged workers to unite with their employers and see themselves as part of the government, noting that the employees could not have become union members if they were not first employed by the government.

He said government cannot improve the welfare of its workers if it continues to lose too much of its revenues to strikes.