Its no news that the staffs of the PHCN and the Government have been locked in negotiations for months now as the government seeks to pay them their disengagement benefits. Negotiations have largely been thorny with both sides refusing to budge. The Government believing it is close to finalizing privatizing the Power Generation and Distribution aspect of its companies made an offer of about N384billion to PHCN during the week.
As expected the Labour Unions rejected the amount questioning how Government came up with that figure considering actuarial analysis is still in progress. Whilst I am oblivious of the critical details of the negotiations it is quite upsetting that one of the most corrupt and most inefficient parastatals of the government for decades is holding the country to ransom and threatening to derail the power process should the government refuse to meet their demand.
The General Secretary of the Union , Comrade Joe Ajaeroeven even went as far as saying “If the money (N384 billion) to be paid to the staff is to appreciate them for their concerted efforts towards the noticeable power improvement in the country, we shall gladly accept it and commend government for the largesse”. Concerted efforts?? Noticeable power improvement?? Such is the attitude certain government workers put up amidst very very unnoticeable sound work ethics.