Electricity workers on Thursday suspended their nationwide strike after about 10 hours of disruption, following a meeting with the Federal Government over disputes involving the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The industrial action, led by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), had triggered fears of a nationwide blackout. The strike was linked to long-standing grievances, including poor welfare, unpaid salaries, casualisation of staff, lack of protective equipment, and unresolved issues from the unbundling of TCN.
An emergency meeting was convened in Abuja with officials from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Labour and Employment, TCN, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), and the unions. After hours of deliberation, both parties agreed to suspend the strike based on key resolutions.
According to the agreement, a report by a standing committee will be reviewed on October 6–7, 2025, with implementation to begin later that month. TCN and NISO are to assess the financial requirements of the recommendations and present a plan to the Minister of Power and the unions. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was also tasked to speed up its tariff review to aid the process.
It was also resolved that no worker would face reprisals for participating in the strike. The unions warned, however, that they would resume industrial action if the government or TCN failed to honor the agreement.
The suspension of the strike eased tension across the country, where homes and businesses had been on edge over the possibility of a prolonged blackout. The workers had accused TCN of ignoring their welfare and failing to address operational challenges, leading to what they described as a deterioration in the electricity sector.
With the truce, electricity supply is expected to stabilise while discussions continue to address outstanding concerns.