By Ebi Kesiena
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong warning to the Nigerian Government, vowing to mobilize workers and citizens for a nationwide protest if the proposed electricity tariff hike is implemented.
Describing the increase as “economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace,” the NLC has made it clear that it will not stand by while citizens are subjected to further financial hardship.
The National Union of Electricity Employees has also cautioned the government against raising electricity tariffs, arguing that Nigerians should not be forced to pay for unreliable and inadequate power supply.
In a communiqué released following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola, Adamawa State and made available to journalists on Monday, the NLC strongly rejected what it termed a “sham reclassification” of electricity consumers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The union accused the Ministry of Power and NERC of attempting to deceive consumers into higher tariff bands under the guise of service improvements, while in reality, worsening economic hardship.
According to the statement, the ruling elite are acting as enforcers of global monopoly capital and are determined to deepen the suffering of Nigerians through relentless tariff hikes, increased taxation, and economic policies that further oppress the people.
The NEC resolved that any attempt to impose additional electricity tariffs would be met with mass resistance and directed the National Administrative Council to begin immediate mobilization for protests. It warned the government not to test the patience of Nigerians.
Beyond electricity concerns, the NLC also raised alarm over the recent 35 percent increase in telecommunications tariffs. While acknowledging that an earlier agreement with the Federal Government reduced the initially proposed hike from 50 percent to 35 percent, the congress remains skeptical about the government’s commitment to honoring its promises.
Emphasizing that Nigerian workers should not bear the burden of corporate and government inefficiencies, the electricity workers’ union described the move as an exploitative agenda designed to extract more money from Nigerians without delivering any meaningful improvement in service quality.
