he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday made good their threat by shutting down Abuja and states over the new Electricity tariffs.
There were mass protests against the new rates sanctioned by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The Generation Companies (GENCOS) and the Distributing Companies (DISCOS) implemented the new tariffs effective February 1, this year.
The protest kicked off from the Labour House at the Central Business Area with members carrying placards.
The first point of call was the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) at Wuse Zone 4 where the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, addressed the crowd, saying the time of taking people for granted is over. He said billing all over the world is based on what you consume. He maintained that there must be a stop to the impunity as the regulatory agency is expected to protect the interest of consumers.
“President Buhari must stand with the people as he promised Nigerians and he must revisit the privatisation of power sector. We would not allow ‘GENCO and DISCO’ exploit Nigerians, and there must be an end to the estimated billing.”.
The protesters marched to NERC office and from there went to the National Assembly where a formal letter was handed over to the leadership with security agencies giving cover.
At the National Asembly Complex, Abuja, Senate President Bukola Saraki renewed his earlier pledge that lawmakers would ensure that the hike is resolved in the interest of Nigerians.
Saraki, who addressed the rally, said the commitment of the Eighth National Assembly to collaborate with the executive in entrenching policies that are people-friendly, will not be taken lightly.
He said the Senate believes in the struggle to ensure that the right thing is done and therefore, it will resolve the impasse to avert any further unrest.
Addressing the labour leaders and members of the CSOs, he said: “I welcome you to this place because it belongs to you. We are only tenants for four years. We are here to serve the Nigerian people. I want to assure you that the Eighth National Assembly is for the people.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has described the new rates as “a painful pill,” appealing to consumers to “swallow” it.
Fashola stated this on the sidelines of the second monthly sectoral meeting with stakeholders in the power sector in Lagos, where he also inspected some projects at the Alagbon Transmission and Distribution Complex yesterday.
He said, “importantly, I understand that people who have been disappointed over a long time will feel a sense of concern that again tariffs have gone up. But the truth is that these tariffs ought to have been there from day one. I don’t know why the government of yesterday was not courageous enough to tell us this was the price.
“It is a painful pill that I must appeal that we swallow. It is like quinine and malaria. It’s painful; it’s not sweet, I know that, but I do it because we are not left with many choices. This is the first major decision in power that this administration has taken. There are other problems.
“I can only appeal for some understanding and some trust that we do this in the best interest of our country. It is a hard decision, but I think down the line, we will have cause to look…,” Fashola said.
Defending the tariffs, NERC said they were effected after series of consultations with stakeholders.
In a statement issued in Abuja, NERC said the clarification is coming on the heels of reports credited to the NLC, alleging certain infractions against the commission.
The statement signed by the Head, Public Affairs Department, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, said while the commission will restrain itself from delving into a matter already before the court, it, however, has taken note of the ongoing protest by the NLC.
“In this regard, the commission hereby states that it is committed to act in the best interest of electricity customers and all stakeholders in the development of the electricity industry.
Labour unions demand reversal of electricity tariff hike
• Stage nationwide protest
From Bimbola Oyesola, Lagos, Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin, Desmond Mgboh, Kano and Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Organised labour, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and its allies in civil society organisations, yesterday, made good their threat by picketing the National Electric Regulatory Commission (NERC), Generating Companies (Gencos) and the Distribution companies (Discos) nationwide.
The protesters, made up of members of organised labour, consumer protection group and various communities picketed Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, located at Alausa in Ikeja, carried placards with inscriptions such as “No Electricity, No Industries, No jobs, Provide Electricity ; No light.”
NLC Vice President, Amechi Asugwuni, who was among the protesters, said the increment, at this time, negates the present economic hardship and was an attempt to further impoverish Nigerians.He vowed that labour will continue to protest the 45 per cent increase until it was reversed or there was a substantive improvement in electricity supply.
Meanwhile, in Kano, NLC and TUC picketed the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO). Members who arrived the office early, disrupted resumption of normal office activities.
Chairman of Kano State chapter of the NLC, Ado Minjibir, said that the purpose of the protest was to call the attention of the public to the cost implications of the 45 percent hike in tariff, saying it was left to the public to decide whether to pay or not to pay.
In Ondo, members of the NLC and TUC locked up offices of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and the protest led to power outage for several hours in Akure, the state’s capital. The protesters, who assembled as early as 8:00am at the company’s office premises condemned BEDC operations and alleged that the company was exploiting the masses.
Ondo State chairman of NLC, Mrs. Bosede Daramola, said the increase is a contravention of due process.
... Allege FG disobeyed court order
• Threaten indefinite strike
From Tony John, Port Harcourt, Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki, Tony Osauzo, Benin, Segun Olatunji, Abeokuta, Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Elsewhere, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) told Nigerians to hold the Federal Government responsible for nationwide protests against increase in electricity tariff.
State chapters of both unions yesterday, picketed the head office of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED), Rivers State capital.
The unions accused the power companies of impunity which they said have caused electricity consumers untold suffering.
NLC state chairman, Beatrice Itubo, said: “We are saying no to impunity. This increase is unilateral and arbitrary and it is a sign of impunity. It is also disobedience to a subsisting court order which says tariffs should not be increased pending the determination of a suit to that effect which is before it. This is a warning protest, but, if the Federal Government refuses to budge, we will go on an indefinite strike.”
In Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, NLC and Tuc Laid Siege to the office of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), branded placards and blocked the entrance of the electricity company.
The protest, which started as early as 8:00am, forced staff of the company to close its offices and stop collection of electricity bills. Ikechukwu Nwafor, state chairman of NLC said the unions decided to carry out the nationwide protest because the Federal Government did not follow due process before it increased electricity tariff.
In Benin, Edo State capital, activities at the Benin Electricity Distribution Distribution Company (BEDC) were crippled as members of the NLC and TUC laid siege to the company’s office.
The state chairman of NLC, Emmanuel Ademokun, said the 45 percent increase was too much for ordinary Nigerians to bear, saying the protests would not stop until the FG reverts to the old rate.
The same scenario was repeated in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital when members of the NLC and the TUC, barricaded the entrance to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), shutting out members of staff of the company while protesting the hike in tariff.
The state NLC chairman, Hakeem Ambali, reiterated to reporters that the hike in tariff was abnormal and unacceptable because due process was not followed. He said the increment amounts to extortion and would be continuously rejected.
In Ibadan, Oyo State NLC and TUC laid siege to the IBEDC office which forced electricity workers to flee. The state chairman of NLC, Waheed Olojede, who was one of the leaders of the protesters, stated that since there was a case in court, any increment in electricity tariff would be null and void.
