The Organised Labour will hold a National Executive Council meeting prior to the planned picketing of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission offices against the electricity pricing increase. The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission revealed the rise in the electricity tariff for Band A consumers at a press briefing in Abuja on April 3, stating that those impacted will pay N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous cost of N68/kWh, a 240% increase. The electricity subsidy was totally removed from the tariffs of Band A customers, who accounted for around 15% of the country’s total 12.82 million power consumers.
The Federal Government estimated that the tariff hike will save N1.5 trillion. The government announced that the decision went into effect on April 3, 2024, and that Band A subscribers will receive up to 20 hours of power per day. However, the House of Representatives, organised labour, and the Nigerian Bar Association all opposed the pricing increase, which would affect around 1.9 million users. The House requested that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission immediately suspend the statewide implementation of the new electricity rate. However, during an investigative session convened by the Senate Committee on Power last Monday, the Power Minister warned that if the electricity pricing rise was not implemented, there would be a nationwide blackout within three months.
This came after the Senate Committee, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, rejected the proposed tariff regime. “If we do not raise tariffs, the entire industry will come to a halt. If we do not raise tariffs in the next three months, the entire country will be left in the dark. “The increment will propel us to the next level. We are also Nigerian. We are also experiencing the impact,” [/i] Adelabu stated. However, the NLC and TUC urged the NERC and power sector operators to rescind the rise in electricity tariffs within a week, despite their discontent with the country’s epileptic power status, which they claim is harming economic growth.
Speaking at the International Workers Day celebration in Abuja on May 1, NLC President Ajaero and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, stated, “It is unethical to force Nigerians to pay higher tariffs for non-existent electricity.” Estimated billing is an extortion and daylight robbery of Nigerians. [i]Organized Labour has also vowed to picket NERC offices if the NERC does not reverse the tariff completely. Labour’s ultimatum ends on May 12, 2024. Meanwhile, Tommy Etim, National Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress, told our correspondent that the unions would hold a NEC meeting, as is customary at the end of an ultimatum.
He stated, “The truth is that due process was not followed.” You cannot simply announce a walk like that. It’s not done anywhere. They should revoke the rise and call for stakeholder participation.” When asked what the Organised Labour would do once the ultimatum expired, he replied, “Wait for the next line of action.” When asked if the next step would be to hold a NEC meeting, Etim replied, “That is standard procedure.”
