Highest Level of 419’: Ajaero Criticizes Power Minister Over Electricity Bands, Migration Plans

NLC President Joe Ajaero has slammed the Power Minister’s proposed electricity band migration plans, calling it the ‘highest level of 419’ and urging transparency.

Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has criticized Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu regarding electricity bands and proposed migration plans.

The labor leader raised concerns about the reasoning behind placing some individuals in Band A while others are assigned to lower bands, describing this practice as discriminatory.

He criticized the service-based tariff system, which categorizes electricity users into different bands based on services provided by distribution companies, describing it as the most blatant form of ‘419’.

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At a budget defense session at the National Assembly this week, Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, stated that 90 percent of electricity users in Band A have reported receiving benefits associated with their band. He also mentioned plans to transition more customers to Band A so they can enjoy extended hours of electricity access.

Nonetheless, Ajaero, appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” program on Thursday, raised concerns about the practice of transferring customers from one band to another.

Ajaero commented during the program, “The ministry is currently discussing moving from Band B to Band A, which represents an extreme level of deceit.” In local slang, 419 has become synonymous with fraudulent activities.

Who belongs to Band A and who is in Band B? Is your placement into either band determined by geographical location, or does it depend on the provider’s criteria?

In nations striving for a 24-hour power supply, why would anyone discuss Band A or Band B? How can such concepts even come into play? This notion seems devised to create…

“What are the criteria for being placed in Band A? What about the requirements for Band B? Why is there a difference in treatment between these bands? What justifies assigning me to Band B while someone else receives Band A? These are the concerns at hand.”

Band A consists of individuals who have electricity for 20 hours each day. Band B receives at least 16 hours, while Band C enjoys a minimum of 12-hour power supply. Those in Band D receive no less than 8 hours, and those in Band E get at least four hours daily.

Ajaero also criticized the Federal Government for allocating funds to power distribution companies, which are considered private entities, in the 2025 budget.

He suggested that instead of using the funds intended for improving the power sector, the government should allocate them elsewhere. Meanwhile, privately-owned power companies should utilize their generated revenue to operate and manage themselves.