ABUJA — In response to a recent increase in energy prices, Organized Labor closed the offices of the Nigeria energy Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) yesterday.
In addition to demanding a reversal of the raise, Organized Labor, operating under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), closed down state offices of energy distribution firms (DisCos) around the nation.
It said that the power industry’s privatization was a “colossal failure” and called for the full reversal of the exercise and recovery of all sold public energy assets.
Recall that on May 3, 2024, representatives of the NLC and the TUC wrote to the Minister of Power and the Chairman/CEO of NERC, threatening industrial disruption if they did not reverse the rise in energy tariffs by May 12.
The NLC and TUC conducted the picketing of NERC, TCN, and the Ministry of Power.
An increase in the national energy rate for Band A consumers from N65/kwh to N225/kwh, which was previously announced by NERC, drew criticism from a number of quarters of the nation, including Organized Labor.
The labor leaders met at the Abuja Labour House, located in the Central Business District Area, as early as 7 am. From there, they marched to the NERC headquarters, holding placards that read, among other things, “let the poor breathe, give us affordable and constant power,” “N228 per kilowatt is killing, reverse it now,” and “Electricity tariff increase, not acceptable.” “We are not a Republic of generators,” “We are not a Republic of generators,” and “IMF,Among other things, “World Bank, leave Nigeria’s power sector alone.”
“Collosal failure”
Speaking to reporters, Comrade Joe Ajaero said that the power sector’s privatization was a “colossal failure” and that organized labor in Nigeria was calling for the recovery of all sold public energy assets as well as a total reversal of the privatization process.
“Workers are the hardest hit by the increase in electricity tariff,” the speaker stated. In contrast to entrepreneurs, wage earners are unable to modify their take-home pay in response to rising utility bills.
“Wage stagnation combined with rising electricity and refined petroleum product costs pushes workers over the edge of sanity and survival.”
Cost hikes for electricity have a significant impact on millions of individuals in the informal sector who work for small and medium-sized firms. Due to the forced closure of several such firms, Nigeria’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed. On our streets, the collateral costs of crime and social upheaval are a daily reality.
“Nigerian organized labor is compelled to declare that the country’s privatization of the electricity industry is an enormous disaster.
“Organized labor in Nigeria demands the complete reversal of the privatization of the power sector and the recovery of all public electricity assets sold at deeply discounted prices to primarily unskilled, underfunded, and technically deficient private investors.”
The recent rise in energy prices and the corresponding downgrading and upgrading of consumers from one band to another are rejected by Nigerian laborers. We firmly believe that Nigeria cannot be justifying and rationing darkness after more than 60 years of freedom. This can’t happen.
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