NIGERIA: Osogbo Disconnected From National Grid Over Staff Beating
Osogbo, the state capital of Osun state have been disconnected from the national grid as Air force personnel beat staff of the Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN, on official duty.
Report says the TCN workers were on official duty at Oke-Baale area of the state capital on Monday to clear illegal structure under high tension lines when the military personnel, whose barrack was located in the area, descended on them.
Reports says three of the TCN staffs were beaten by the Air force personnel while two interns attached to them escaped and reported the incident at their office along Ikirun road.
In a swift reaction,, the TCN office in Osogbo disconnected the town and its environs from the National grid pending an apology from the Air force.
A statement issued by the workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) signed by its Vice President (West), Comrade Sadiq Adewale, stated that the disconnection was ordered due to the brutality meted on its members by the Air force personnel.
Comrade Adewale said Staff were brutalized as they were trying to ensure proper adherence to Right-of-Way and discourage building structures under transmission lines.
The Union leader said the Air Force must reign-in the activities of its men in Osogbo and Osun State in general by guaranteeing the safety of Electricity workers, particularly lines men who move around the towns and bushes to ensure electricity lines and towers remained secured.
He added that the Air force must apologise and write an undertaken assuring the safety of its staff during routine patrols.
“We demand that the Nigeria Air Force should write to apologize to the affected Staff and TCN. Sign an undertaken that TCN Staff can safely carry out their routine patrol without fear of molestation, assault or harassment while on official duty.
“The Nigeria Air Force should be responsible for the treatment of affected Staff and the Federal Government Hilux Vehicle that was damaged during this heinous activity be fixed by the Air force”, he added.
Source: Vanguard
Image: Transmission Company of Nigeria