The minister made this known during an interactive session with energy correspondents in Lagos.
Mr. Nnaji said that based on the agreement reached with the union to increase the salary of its members by 50 per cent, there was need to subject them to biometrics verification, an exercise, which, he noted, had commenced before the union stopped the process.
He said that PHCN generated its revenue, adding that it was not part of government ministries or parastatal agencies as the workers got their salaries based on the total revenue generated by the organisation.
The minister said though both the union and the Ministry of Power agreed to increase the salary of workers, he, however, noted that findings showed that while PHCN generated about N11 billion monthly it utilised a little more than N7 billion on salaries and emoluments.
He added that if PHCN effected payment now, it would not be able to pay for gas, power and other utilities.
Nnaji added that for effective administration and efficiency, there was need to pay for utility services before paying salaries.
``Henceforth, by end of November any worker who failed to subject himself of herself to the ongoing biometrics verification will stop to receive salary.
The minister said that the exercise was aimed at ascertaining the number of workers in the organisation before the new salary could be effected.
``I do not see why anybody should refuse to subject himself to the biometrics verification, even myself as the minister has done it, all the workers in the Federal Government pay roll have done same also,'' he said.
``If the exercise is completed we are going to embark on the payment of the 50 per cent increment because we have gotten the money from the Ministry of Finance.
`` To find a way out, we have to approach Ministry of Finance to pay the arrears but we need to complete the biometric verification, he added.
The minister said that for the three months areas (June, July and August) the ministry had agreed to pay more than N 9 billion..
On the deployment of soldiers to PHCN facilities, Mr. Nnaji stated the move was to protect PHCN facilities "against all odds".
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has insisted that biometrics data be restricted to casual workers, based on the agreement they reached with the Hassan Sunmonu-led negotiating team in May 2011.
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Quelle/Source: NEXT, 19.11.2011
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