The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), on Tuesday sealed the premises of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) in Calabar over the sack of 43 workers.

NUEE chairman in Cross River, Mr. Daniel Asuquo-Ita, said the decision to seal the Calabar premises of the company, was due to “unfair treatment and unwarranted sack of the workers.”

He accused the management of PHEDC of sacking workers without paying them their entitlements.

“In recent time, PHEDC has sacked about 43 workers across the South-South zone and the workers are compelled to collect peanut as entitlements.

“We decided to picket the premises of the company because the management is disobeying Nigeria’s labour laws.

“This country has its laws and I believe that as citizens of this country we must all obey the laws.

“The management of PHEDC has flouted labour laws and we must not sit down and fold our hands,” he said.

Asuquo-Ita threatened that the premises of the company would remain shut until the sacked workers are recalled.

“We must come to round table conference and the sacked workers should be recalled and their salaries paid.

“As long as they refused to call us for round table conference, this gate will not be opened.”

One of the sacked workers, Mr. Eyo Ekpenyong said he had worked for PHEDC as Chief Security Officer for 14 years and was unduly laid off.

“They sack me without paying me anything including severance allowance. I have served them for almost 14 years.

“The union should assist us so that PHEDC can give us at least three months’ salary since they don’t want to give us severance package.”

Reacting to the call for strike, Mr. Jonah Iboma, Public Relations Officer of PHEDC in Calabar, said the matter would be deliberated by the board of the company with a view to resolving all contending issues. (NAN)

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