NLC, TUC Reject New Electricity Tariffs, Segregation of Customers

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have urged the federal government to revise the recent electricity tariff hike, adopt a service reflective tariff and stop the segregation of customers.

The Presidents of the unions, Mr Joe Ajaero (NLC) and Mr Festus Osifo (TUC) made these demands while presenting a joint address at the May Day celebration in Abuja, on Wednesday, May 1.

In the 18-item demands presented by the labour leaders, they said the electricity privatisation exercise in the country should be reviewed with the view to a reversal.

Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) raised the country’s electricity tariff on April 3, 2024, for customers enjoying 20 hours of power supply daily by over 300 per cent. Customers in this category are said to be under the Band A classification.

The increase now sees the customers pay N225 kilowatt per hour from the previous N68, a development that has been heavily criticised by many Nigerians, considering the immediacy of the tariff hike and the current hardship in the land.

Also listed in the demands is the immediate roll-out of the Compresses Natural Gas (CNG) buses nationwide as agreed, to cushion the effect of high petrol and diesel prices on transportation costs.

They also call for a one-year moratorium on all forms of taxes, levies and dues collectable from the informal economy by state and local governments.