The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) says the union has agreed in principle with the arrangements on the payment of severance package to PHCN workers.

Mr Bede Opara, the President General of SSAEAC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that negotiations on the payment of the severance package were progressing.

Opara, however, said that there were other areas that the union needed to clarify to the workers' advantage.

"We agree in principle with the laid down measures for the payment of severance package to the workers.

"However, there are some technical issues that we are yet to agree on.

"We are going to look at those technical issues with a view to resolving them in the next two weeks, " he said.

Opara said that the association did not have any qualms with the employment of an international firm to work out the financial benefits to each of the workers.

NAN reports that the Federal Government, had on Jan. 10, appointed Alexandra Forbes, an international agency, to work out the benefits due to the workers.

The Ministry of Power said it had set aside N170 billion for the severance package.

The mass retrenchment in PHCN is in line with the unbundling process and subsequent privatisation of the company. (NAN)