The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced plans to picket the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and distribution companies (DisCos) nationwide today, Monday, May 13, 2024, in response to the recent hike in electricity tariffs.
The move follows a Sunday deadline given to NERC to reverse the tariff increase, which was not met.
The tariff hike, which was approved by NERC, will see customers under the Band A category paying N225 per kilowatt hour, up from the existing N66. The increase has been met with stiff opposition, particularly in light of rising inflation and the removal of petroleum subsidy
Labour unions have accused NERC of colluding with distribution companies to impose oppressive electricity tariffs, and have given a 7-day ultimatum to reverse the hike. The unions have also threatened nationwide picketing if the tariff hike is not reversed.
The Federal Government has defended the move, citing the need to pay about N1.8 trillion in electricity subsidy in 2024 and the provision in the Electricity Act, 2023 for the review of tariffs twice yearly. However, the House of Representatives has asked NERC to suspend the implementation of the tariff hike.
The planned picketing action is part of a broader response to the tariff hike, which has drawn comments from various quarters, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who has claimed that the Federal Government is raising funds for the “cash-trapped” DisCoS with the tariff hike.
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