Labour Protests and Disconnects Offices Over Tariff Hike

Organized Labour, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), launched protests against the recent hike in electricity tariff across the country. The protests targeted the headquarters of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and various distribution companies (DisCos) nationwide.

**What Happened:**

• - Labour unions demanded a reversal of the electricity tariff hike and condemned the privatization of the power sector, labeling it a "colossal failure."
• - Leaders of the NLC and TUC had issued a deadline to the Minister of Power and the Chairman/CEO of NERC to reverse the tariff increase or face industrial unrest.
• - The protests involved picketing NERC, TCN, and Ministry of Power offices across the nation, with workers blocking entrances and disrupting operations.
• - Placards with slogans like "let the poor breathe, give us affordable and constant power" and "Electricity tariff increase, not acceptable" were displayed during the protests.
• - Labour leaders accused the government of burdening Nigerians with exorbitant tariffs while failing to provide adequate power supply.
• - Labour unions directed workers to disconnect power supply to all areas where NERC and TCN offices are located as part of the protest.
• - The NLC and TUC demanded a halt to further tariff increases until certain conditions, including a review of the privatization exercise and distribution of prepaid meters, are met.
• - Protests occurred in various states, including Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Kaduna, Kano, Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Imo, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom.

Government Response
- The federal government promised to revisit the issue with relevant stakeholders and consider consultations before making decisions.
- The permanent secretary in the federal ministry of power assured the NLC of engaging in wide consultations with stakeholders to address the concerns raised by the protests.

The protests underscored the dissatisfaction among Nigerians with the recent electricity tariff hike and highlighted the need for comprehensive discussions and actions to address the challenges in the power sector.