The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has opposed the Federal Government’s proposal to standardize electricity tariffs for customers in Bands A, B, and C.
In a statement issued on Sunday following the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, the labor union warned that it would organize large-scale protests nationwide if the government proceeds with its plan.
Last Thursday, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced that lower tariff bands would be upgraded to Band A.
In the statement signed by NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union rejected the “forced migration” of consumers from lower bands to Band A.
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“On the Migration of Electricity Consumers with a view to increasing tariff: NEC unequivocally rejects the ongoing sham reclassification of electricity consumers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which seeks to forcefully migrate consumers from lower bands to Band A under the guise of service improvement while, in reality, imposing unjustified extortion on the masses,” the NLC declared.
“This systematic exploitation, sanctioned by the Ministry of Power, is nothing short of economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace.
“It is evident that the ruling elite, acting as enforcers of global monopoly capital, are determined to further deepen the misery of the Nigerian people through incessant tariff hikes, increased taxation, and relentless economic strangulation.
“Whereas inflation has soared, wages remain stagnant, and the cost of living has become unbearable, the ruling class continues to transfer the burden of their fiscal irresponsibility onto the already impoverished working masses.
“NEC-in-session warns that any attempt to announce further electricity tariff increases will be met with mass resistance.
“Consequently, the Congress resolves to immediately mobilise for a nationwide protest should the Ministry of Power and NERC proceed with their exploitative plan to further hike electricity tariffs under any guise.
“The NLC shall not stand idly by while the Nigerian people are subjected to the unholy machinations of capitalist profiteers and their state collaborators.”
For many years, Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has struggled with persistent energy issues, largely due to unreliable power supply that hampers productivity.
Despite the privatization of the electricity sector, power generation, transmission, and distribution continue to be plagued by problems such as policy inconsistency, low investment, and operational difficulties.
In 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved an increase in electricity prices, with Band A customers now paying around N250 per unit of power.
The prices of petrol and diesel, common alternatives, have also surged by five times, further complicating the situation for consumers.
Additionally, in the same year, NERC granted licenses to some state electricity regulatory commissions for power plants and distribution.
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