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Nigerian electricity workers have raised alarm over worsening insecurity, deepening poverty, and what they describe as a collapsing power sector pushing them to the brink.
As the nation marks Workers’ Day 2026, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) says its members are increasingly exposed to violence, unsafe working conditions, and economic hardship while striving to keep the country powered.
In a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, the union lamented that challenges in the sector—from overstretched infrastructure to erratic electricity supply—are rapidly mounting.
According to NUEE, workers are being forced to operate under extreme pressure, even as inflation surges, wages stagnate, and the cost of living continues to spiral.
The union warned that without urgent reforms, both the workforce and the nation’s fragile power system could face further decline.
It said: “We work under very unsafe environments and conditions. Our linemen and technicians in the transmission sector are threatened daily by kidnappers and bandits, while distribution engineers and technicians are often attacked by hoodlums and community youths. Our sales and marketing teams also face severe harassment, intimidation, and abuse while rendering services to the public.”
The union described a grim reality in which workers risk their lives simply to perform their duties. Across the country, electricity infrastructure has become a target for vandalism and attacks, leaving technical staff vulnerable. Substations are damaged, transmission lines sabotaged, and entire communities plunged into darkness, compounding the already dire state of power supply.
Economic hardship is further worsening the crisis. NUEE noted that many workers are grappling with stagnant salaries, casualisation of labour, and poor remuneration amid a weakening currency and rising inflation.
“For many, the promise of decent work—defined by fair pay and safe conditions—has become increasingly unattainable,” the union said, adding: “Insecurity continues to cast a long shadow over our workplaces and communities. No worker should have to choose between earning a living and staying alive.”
The union also criticised the state of Nigeria’s power sector reforms, arguing that privatisation has failed to deliver meaningful improvements. Instead, it said, the system has produced “public disaster and private gains,” with Nigerians still grappling with unreliable electricity supply.
Despite Nigeria’s population of over 220 million, power generation remains below 5,000 megawatts—far below global benchmarks—placing significant strain on the system and the workers who maintain it.
Yet, amid the crisis, electricity workers have remained resilient. NUEE praised its members for their dedication, noting that they continue to serve in both urban and remote areas under hazardous conditions. However, the union stressed that resilience should not be mistaken for acceptance.
It called for urgent action to address insecurity, improve working conditions, ensure fair wages, and overhaul the struggling power sector.
As Workers’ Day is commemorated, electricity workers say the message is clear: without safety, dignity, and meaningful reform, the backbone of Nigeria’s power supply will continue to weaken—plunging the nation deeper into darkness.
