The offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and electricity distribution companies (DisCos) nationwide will, today, face picketing by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
D’Gallery gathered that the move is against the backdrop of the recent in electricity tariff.
The unions declared this in a joint statement by NLC’s Ag General Secretary Chris Uyot and his TUC counterpart Anka Hassan.
Although the NERC had reviewed the tariff, the labour unions said the picketing became imperative following the reversal deadline failure on Sunday.
“We write to inform you of the picketing action scheduled to take place in the offices of the NERC and Electricity Distribution companies (DISCOS) in all states, including the FCT,” the statement said.
“The action will jointly take place on Monday, 13th of May, 2024, nationwide simultaneously. Therefore, the two Labour centres are directed to work together to carry out this important action. While counting on your usual cooperation, kindly accept the assurances of our goodwill and highest regards,” it added.
Recall that the electricity tariff hike has been greeted with criticisms and opposition, following the acute hardship in the country, due to fuel subsidy removal.
Hitherto, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), had claimed that the Federal Government was raising funds for the “cash-trapped” DisCoS with the tariff hike.
But while defending the move, the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu said the Federal Government would pay about N1.8trn in electricity subsidy in 2024.
He argued that the Electricity Act 2023 made provisions for the review of tariffs twice yearly.
“Review of tariff is actually legal once it is within the exclusive responsibility of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC),” he stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“The Act actually provides for review twice in a year, every six months,” Falana said.
Also, the House of Representatives had asked NERC to suspend the implementation of the tariff hike.
