Lagos, Nigeria - The umbrella Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to withdrawal the soldiers it deployed to power installations across the country.

NLC President Abdulwaheed Omar said the deployment of the troops could have a negative effect on ongoing talks between the government and electricity workers over the planned privatisation of some aspects of power generation and transmission.

The government said the troops were deployed to guard the facilities against attacks by the Islamic insurgent group Boko Haram, but workers believe it was aimed at intimidating them.

Already, some workers of the goverment-run monopoly, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), have launched a strike to protest the deployment.

'We urge the federal government to ensure that these soldiers are withdrawn in order to facilitate smooth transition and smooth talks that will engender progress and something that will be of benefit to the entire Nigerians,' the NLC boss said at a forum in Ilorin, capital of northern Kwara state, on Thursday.

'Maybe the federal government is really being economical with the truth. It is not only the PHCN that should be secured from the attacks of Boko Haram. There are so many other places. We believe that the government is doing this with some hidden reasons,' he added.

Pana 18/11/2011