NLC threatens nationwide protest over planned electricity tariff hike for Band B

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected plans by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to increase electricity tariffs or migrate electricity consumers from lower bands to Band A.

On April 3, 2024, the federal government approved an increase in electricity tariffs for customers under the Band A classification, while other bands remained unchanged.

However, on Thursday, Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, said the electricity consumers on Band B are not paying enough and may soon have to pay more.

In a communique on Sunday, Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC, said the national executive council (NEC) of the union unequivocally rejected the migration during a meeting held in Yola, Adamawa State, on February 28.

Ajaero said the plan to migrate consumers to Band A would extort the masses and inflict economic hardship on the working class and Nigerians.

“Whereas inflation has soared, wages remain stagnant, and the cost of living has become unbearable, the ruling class continues to transfer the burden of their fiscal irresponsibility onto the already impoverished working masses,” he said.

“The NEC-in-session warned that any attempt to announce further electricity tariff increases would be met with mass resistance.

“The Congress resolved to immediately mobilise for a nationwide protest should the Ministry of Power and NERC proceed with their exploitative plan to further hike electricity tariffs under any guise.”

Ajaero also noted that NEC acknowledged the agreement between the NLC and the federal government on February 25, through a joint committee, reducing the initially proposed telecommunications tariff hike from 50 percent to 35 percent.

“However, the Congress remains vigilant, recognizing the long history of infidelity. NEC categorically warns that should the implementation of the agreement on March 1, 2025 not be agreed, the National Administrative Council (NAC) is mandated to immediately deploy all necessary instruments to enforce compliance in line with the February 10th, 2025 Central Working Committee (CWC) directive,” he said.

On January 20, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) granted approval to telecommunications companies (telcos) to implement a 50 percent tariff increase.