Claims by the federal government it had paid most of the workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, their terminal benefits ahead of hand-over to new owners, have been dismissed by the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, saying only a few workers had been paid.

The association, in a petition to the Minister of Power, claimed that the money purported to have been paid to the workers after the October 2 agreement with the government never entered the workers’ accounts, reiterating its position that no new owners would take physical possession of PHCN assets until all workers had been paid their terminal benefits.

SSAEAC President-General and Secretary General, Bede Opara and Abiodun Ogunsegha, in the petition warned that workers would shut down the sector should effort be made to physically take over the assets without full payment of workers’ benefits.

“We state here that in our meeting with the Chairman, Implementation Committee, Permanent Secretary, Federal Minister of Power on Wednesday 2nd October, 2013, it was agreed that payment of terminal benefits of PHCN staff entitlements will be concluded in two weeks from that date. However we note that up to this moment, only a handful of payment has been made.

“What we heard or read in the Newspapers is that Government intends to physically hand over the PHCN infrastructures to the investors on 1st of November, 2013.

“We state that this will negate and violate the understanding and agreement reached with the unions and we stand clearly to state again that we shall resist any physical hand-over until all payments are concluded.

“Information available to us is as follows: Benin 50 per cent not paid yet, Jos 55 per cent not paid yet, Sapele 77 people not paid, Egbin 60 people not paid yet, Ughelli 61 people not paid yet, Afam 67 people not paid yet, Kaduna 100 per cent yet to collect – nobody has been paid. Jebba 219 yet to be paid, Abuja over 1000 not paid, Transmission -none has been paid and, Retirement Savings Account, RSA, entitlements not paid to anyone.”

“Government had said and made us to believe money needed was available. We also got the assurance of the Accountant-General of the Federation that money is available to pay. Who is holding the money or refusing to release to the beneficiaries. Government should act now; else no one should blame the Labour Union for any action that should be taken,” the petition said.