Payment of PHCN workers’ benefits begins June 17

The Federal Government has set June 17, 2013 for the commencement of the payment of the N384bn severance benefits to the workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said this while responding to questions from members of staff of the Egbin Power Plc in Lagos on Tuesday.

The minister explained that barring all unforeseen contingencies as well as documentation lapses by the over 50,000 workers, payment would begin on June 17.

“For several months, the technical and implementation committee on payment of severance benefits has been meeting on the issue and we thought by now we would have gone far with the payment,” he said.

Nebo, however, said the insistence by the labour unions in the power sector that casual workers numbering over 12,000 should be fully integrated into the system and given appointment letters had delayed the payment exercise.

“I can authoritatively tell you that as at yesterday (Monday), the appointment letters of the casual workers have been signed. They should start paying by June 17,” he said.

The minister said forms had been circulated for verification among the workers with a 14-day ultimatum for them to fill and send them back to Abuja.

“We need a lot of cooperation from you so that the information we get will be authentic,” he added.

Allaying the workers’ fears of being short changed during the payment process, Nebo said, “Your leadership has signed documents and no one is going to give the workers less than what is stipulated in the condition of service. Very soon, the money will start hitting your accounts.”

Advising the workers not to be sceptical about the privatisation process, the minister urged those that might be called upon by the new owners of the power firms not to hesitate to serve their fatherland.

Source