NLC Slams Power Ministry, Rejects N8 Billion Plan

  • The Nigeria Labour Congress blamed the frequent grid collapses on the incompetence of the Minister of Power and NERC and demanded a full audit of the power sector’s budget.
  • The union rejected the proposed N8 billion allocation for educating consumers on bill payments, calling it wasteful and corrupt.
  • The NLC urged the National Assembly to remove the N8 billion from the 2025 budget and hold the Ministry of Power accountable for ongoing sector failures.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) blamed the frequent collapse of the national grid on the incompetence of the Minister of Power and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). In a statement on Monday, the NLC condemned the proposal to allocate N8 billion to educate consumers on electricity bill payments, calling it “wasteful, profligate, and corrupt.”

The statement, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, demanded a full audit of the power sector’s budget to uncover potential corruption and financial mismanagement. The NLC challenged the Ministry of Power to reveal how much revenue it has earned from privatised Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in the 12 years since sector privatisation, especially given the ministry’s 40% ownership stake.

“We will continue to monitor developments and will not allow public funds to go to waste,” the statement read. The NLC accused the government of prioritising wasteful expenditures instead of addressing the power sector’s issues. The NLC criticised the request for N8 billion for sensitisation while contractors in the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) remain owed over N200 billion.

The NLC expressed frustration with NERC’s failure to regulate the power industry. Despite the powers granted to NERC under the Electricity Act of 2023, the union said the commission had shown incapacity to perform its duties. The NLC noted that grid collapses had become routine, showing the government’s failure to address the sector’s deep issues.

The union also criticised Minister Adebayo Adelabu’s request for N8 billion for sensitisation. “It is outrageous that the Minister seeks N8 billion to educate Nigerians on bill payments while contractors remain unpaid,” the NLC stated. The labour movement emphasised that government leaders should focus on resolving the ongoing power crisis rather than wasteful spending.

The NLC also raised concerns about the Ministry of Power and NERC failing to protect whistleblowers. The statement referenced an incident where NERC allegedly collaborated with a DISCO board to sack a managing director who had exposed unethical practices within the company. The NLC condemned this action as a violation of accountability and transparency.

“The sector stands on the brink of collapse due to gross incompetence at the top,” the NLC warned. “The government prioritises self-interest instead of solving the country’s power crisis.” The NLC argued that the continued frequency of grid collapses reflects the government’s failure to manage the sector effectively.

The union also questioned why the Ministry of Power had not been held accountable for the constant grid failures. The NLC claimed that the number of collapses under the current leadership had exceeded those under previous administrations. “Rather than offering excuses, Nigerians expect serious action from their leaders,” the NLC stated.

The labour body urged the National Assembly to remove the N8 billion allocation from the 2025 budget. It also called for a comprehensive audit of the entire power sector budget to expose other potential areas of corruption. The NLC warned that failure to address these concerns would further erode public confidence in government institutions.

“Nigeria’s stagnation stems partly from the incompetence in the power sector,” the NLC concluded. It stressed that the public would no longer tolerate wasteful spending and called for leadership focused on solving the country’s energy crisis.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *