Any attempt to reclassify electricity consumers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will be resisted, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said.
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has also rejected the planned reclassification.
Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Dominic Igwebike, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the migration of consumers is not acceptable.
He said, “NUEE 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. This systematic exploitation, sanctioned by the Ministry of Power, is nothing short of economic violence against the working class and the broader Nigerian populace.”
NUEE argued that 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. While 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.
“NLC-in-session warns that any attempt to announce further electricity tariff increases will be met with mass resistance. Consequently, 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. The NLC shall not stand idly by while the Nigerian people are subjected to the unholy machinations of capitalist profiteers and their state collaborators,” it stated.
On its part, rising from its National Executive Council (NEC), which took place in Yola, Adamawa State, the NLC accused the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, of taking over the work of NERC, which is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of regulation.
The NLC said: “The Congress reiterates that no society can sustainably develop under a regime of corporate plunder and neoliberal enslavement. The Nigerian working people must, therefore, remain resolute, organised, and uncompromising in the collective struggle for a fair and equitable Nigeria where the dominance of fat cats at the expense of the masses will be greatly reduced to create a socioeconomic balance.”
On the 35 per cent tariff hike in telecommunications services, the NLC insisted that the agreement reached was for a 35 per cent increase with the government, not a 50 percent increment.
It said: “NEC categorically warns that should the implementation of the agreement on March 1, 2025, not be as 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. NEC reaffirms the historical responsibility of the working class to resist all forms of exploitation and oppression. It calls on all affiliates, industrial unions, and progressive allies to remain on high alert and fully prepared to engage in decisive mass action against all anti-people policies of the state.”
The NLC declared that the justification given by NERC for the electricity hike in 2024 is that the hike applies only to Band A consumers, who make up only 15 percent of electricity consumers and utilize 40 percent of the nation’s electricity consumption. Consequently, it was stated that the increase would not affect the general public.
The NLC said it asked some salient questions in its publication of April 14th, 2024, that have yet to be answered.
It said: “Who are the Band A consumers? What do they do? Who are the customers of the Band A consumers? Who bears the brunt of the electricity hike?”
It added that the general public will be most affected by this, saying they are the customers and end-users of the Band A products and services.
It observed that the additional costs will be transferred to the common man, who will be indirectly exploited, notwithstanding their dwindling purchasing power and increasing impoverishment.
“Rather than prioritizing a tariff review, shouldn’t the Minister focus on improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the power sector?
“The sector’s financial woes, including a shortfall of N1.6 trillion in wholesale tariffs, are undeniable. However, passing on the costs to already burdened consumers may not be the most effective solution. It’s appalling that the Minister appears more interested in increasing the poverty level rather than alleviating the suffering of the masses, as this move by the Minister is geared towards generalizing the electricity tariff at an astronomical amount,” it stated.
The NLC insisted that Nigerians deserve a reliable, efficient and affordable electricity supply system that supports economic growth, improves quality of life, and enhances overall well-being.
It added that instead of a tariff increase, the Minister should prioritise measures to increase power generation, improve transmission infrastructure, and ensure affordable tariffs for consumers.
It stated: “The power sector has been privatized for over 12 years, and the government has not deemed it fit to review the privatization of the electricity sector, which has failed.
“The contemplated increase in electricity tariff should be commensurate with the services rendered. Nigerians should not be paying for darkness. The Honourable Minister of Power must reconsider his priorities and work towards finding solutions that benefit all Nigerians, rather than placing an undue burden on them.”
