NLC Condemns Power Minister’s Claim of ‘Adequate Electricity’ for 150 Million Nigerians
Labour Union Accuses Government of Misleading Statements and Planned TCN Handover
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticized Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu’s recent claim that 150 million Nigerians now enjoy adequate electricity with 5,500 megawatts (MW) of power generation.
NLC President’s Scathing Response
NLC President Joe Ajaero described the minister’s statement as “pretentious” and “a bad joke” on Nigerians who face daily power outages, exorbitant tariffs, and a sector allegedly manipulated for private profit.
“Perhaps the Minister wants to perform Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5,000 persons with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish,” Ajaero stated, highlighting the absurdity of the claim given Nigeria’s persistent power challenges.
Questioning the Minister’s Claims
The NLC challenged the minister’s assertions, noting that:
- Nigeria struggles to generate a meager 5,000MW
- The country should be generating at least 150,000MW to meet global standards
- Existing infrastructure cannot support such claims
“Where are the power plants that make this level of supply possible? Where is the upgraded transmission infrastructure?” the NLC questioned.
Criticism of Power Sector Privatization
The labor union traced current electricity problems to the 2013 privatization, accusing the government of:
- Selling critical infrastructure to cronies for N400 billion
- Failing to improve service delivery
- Planning to subsidize failed companies with N4 trillion
Opposition to TCN Privatization
The NLC expressed alarm over plans to sell the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), calling it “economic ruse dressed in bureaucratic doublespeak” that would benefit elites at citizens’ expense.
Condemnation of Recent Tariff Hike
The union criticized the recent electricity tariff increase as “a sophisticated scheme to legalize exploitation,” noting:
- DISCOs have collected over N700 billion from consumers
- Power supply remains unreliable
- Workers in the sector remain underpaid
NLC’s Resolve
The labor union vowed to resist what it called “organized profiteering” in the power sector, promising to use all democratic means to protect Nigerians from exploitation.
“Nigerians deserve more respect. If you generate, transmit and distribute more power, we will see it in our homes and factories; not on the pages of newspaper and on television,” the NLC stated.
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