Nationwide Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Give NAF Three-Day Ultimatum

Nationwide Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Give NAF Three-Day Ultimatum

A nationwide blackout could occur if electricity workers proceed with threatened industrial action over the alleged assault and detention of staff of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Bauchi State.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) have issued a three-day ultimatum to the authorities, demanding action over the alleged treatment of electricity workers following a dispute over unpaid electricity bills.

The ultimatum, which commenced on September 21, 2026, expires on September 23, after which the unions have threatened to withdraw their services nationwide if their demands are not addressed.

The dispute reportedly began after JED disconnected electricity supply to NAF residential quarters along Ningi Road in Bauchi over an outstanding electricity bill.

JED said the disconnection took place on September 14 following prolonged non-payment and put the outstanding debt owed by the affected NAF quarters at ₦196,730,844.

The distribution company said the amount represented about two per cent of the outstanding debt profile within its Bauchi franchise.

According to JED, the situation escalated on September 18, when NAF personnel allegedly invaded the company’s Bauchi headquarters following the disconnection.

The company said its State Operating Officer, Samaila Isa Bukar, was among those allegedly taken away, alongside an unconfirmed number of meter installers working under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).

JED alleged that the workers were taken in Air Force vehicles to the disconnected residential quarters.

The company further alleged that some of the meter installers were physically assaulted and that Bukar was threatened with further assault unless electricity supply was restored.

JED also alleged that the workers’ mobile phones were seized during the incident and that they were released only after power was restored to the affected quarters.

The allegations have triggered strong reactions from electricity workers, who say the incident threatens the safety of personnel responsible for operating and maintaining Nigeria’s electricity distribution infrastructure.

READ ALSO:

• Edo Police Arrest Cleric Over Alleged Abduction, Sexual Abuse Of Five Girls
• Abia Police Rescue Four-Day-Old Baby, Arrest Four Over Alleged Theft, Trafficking
• Rent Crisis Deepens as Tenants Struggle With Soaring Housing Costs in Calabar, Lagos, Abuja

The unions have demanded an investigation into the incident and protection for their members while carrying out their official responsibilities.

Rilwanu Shehu, national deputy president of SSAEAC, said the alleged incident had created fear among electricity workers in Bauchi.

He said workers could not be expected to continue performing their duties if they were exposed to alleged intimidation or physical attacks in the course of their work.

The unions have also called for medical examination of the affected workers, the return of their belongings and an apology over the alleged treatment.

The NUEE Bauchi branch has reportedly directed workers to remain at home pending further instructions from the union’s national leadership.

Union officials have also approached the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police and the state director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to report the matter and seek intervention.

The unions said they were prepared to shut down electricity-sector operations nationwide if the dispute was not resolved before the expiration of the ultimatum.

Such an action could affect activities across the electricity generation, transmission and distribution sectors, potentially disrupting power supply to homes, businesses, industries and public institutions.

However, the threat of a nationwide blackout should not be interpreted as confirmation that such a shutdown has already begun. The proposed action remains conditional on the outcome of efforts to resolve the dispute before the September 23 deadline.

The disagreement also highlights the continuing challenges surrounding electricity debt collection and enforcement of payment obligations involving government establishments and other large electricity consumers.

JED has maintained that the disconnection of the NAF quarters followed prolonged non-payment and that the company had taken the action as part of its efforts to recover outstanding revenue.

The company has also alleged that the subsequent intervention by NAF personnel resulted in the forced restoration of electricity supply.

The Nigerian Air Force, however, had not issued a substantive public response to the allegations in the reports reviewed as of Tuesday.

An NAF spokesperson in Bauchi, Friday Ogili John, was reported to have indicated that the military would respond to the allegations.

Consequently, the claims of assault, unlawful detention, seizure of phones and forced reconnection remain allegations pending an official response and any findings from investigations.

The controversy comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with challenges in the power sector, including electricity distribution losses, infrastructure constraints, unpaid bills and the gap between available generation and reliable supply to consumers.

Power Minister Joseph Tegbe said on September 21 that electricity generation and transmission had remained above 5,000 megawatts in the preceding weeks. He acknowledged, however, that higher generation had not necessarily translated into reliable electricity supply in every community.

The immediate focus is now on the intervention efforts involving the unions, security agencies, JED and the NAF before the expiration of the three-day ultimatum.

If no resolution is reached and the electricity workers implement their threat to withdraw services, the resulting disruption could have implications for Nigeria’s national power supply.

For now, the unions’ September 23 deadline remains the key date in the dispute.

Nationwide Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Give NAF Three-Day Ultimatum