NLC rejects planned electricity tariff for non-band A customers, threatens nationwide protest

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected plans by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to increase electricity tariffs or migrate electricity consumers from lower bands to Band A while threatening a nationwide protest against the federal government’s planned action.

It would be recalled that the federal government had, on April 3, 2024, approved an increase in electricity tariffs for customers under the Band A classification while other bands remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, said the electricity consumers in Band B are not paying enough and may soon have to pay more.

However, in a communique on Sunday, Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC, said the national executive council (NEC) of the union unequivocally rejected the migration during a meeting held in Yola, Adamawa State, on February 28.

Ajaero maintained that migrating consumers to Band A would extort the masses and inflict economic hardship on the working class and Nigerians.

He said, “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.”

“The NEC-in-session warned that any attempt to announce further electricity tariff increases would be met with mass resistance.

“The Congress resolved 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.”

Ajaero also noted that NEC acknowledged the agreement between the NLC and the federal government on February 25 through a joint committee, reducing the initially proposed telecommunications tariff hike from 50 per cent to 35 per cent.

“However, the Congress remains vigilant, recognizing the long history of infidelity. NEC categorically warns that should the implementation of the agreement on March 1, 2025, not be agreed, the National Administrative Council (NAC) is mandated to immediately deploy all necessary instruments to enforce compliance in line with the February 10th, 2025 Central Working Committee (CWC) directive,” he said.

Source: TheCable