Nigerian Government’s Silence on Reversing Electricity Hike Disappointing

The federal government’s silence over the increase in electricity rates scheduled for April 3 has been deemed disappointing by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Following its National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, where it decided to halt its indefinite strike for a week, NLC made this announcement in a press release.

This comes after the federal government promised to pay a minimum salary above N60,000 during a meeting with organised labour on Monday.

On the other hand, the administration has not yet responded to labor’s second demand, which is the reversal of the electricity tariff.

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NLC voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s inaction and lack of definite steps to reverse the increase in electricity rates and do away with the apartheid-era practice of classifying electricity users into bands.

“The NEC reiterates that these matters are essential to reducing the financial strain on Nigerian labourers and the people in general. Along with the pay increase, the discriminatory Band classification and increased electricity tariffs are still unacceptable, the statement said.

Recall that on April 3, the NERC approved a price increase for consumers receiving a 20–24 hour power supply of more than N200 per kwh.

Nigerians responded in kind to the hike.

The government responded by announcing earlier this week a slight decrease of N18, meaning that band A consumers would now pay N208.80kwh.

The NLC, the Trade Union Congress, and other groups, however, were not happy with the cut and demanded that the entire increase in electricity rates be reversed.

Along with the minimum wage, it was one of the demands made to the federal government.