LABOUR UNIONS PROTEST ELECTRICITY TARIFF HIKE NATIONWIDE

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), civil society allies and electricity consumers undergo a number of protests across Nigeria in order to demonstrate against the 45 per cent increase in electricity tariff.

The increase was announced by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and it kicked off on February 1.

Organised labour said that the protest had become necessary after all efforts to make NERC shelve the idea of electricity tariff increase failed.

According to labour, the due process in the extant laws for such increment was not followed in consonance with section 76 of the Power Sector Reform Act, 2005.

Organised labour also argue that there has been no significant improvement in service delivery.

“The fact is that most consumers are not metered in accordance with the signed privatisation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of November 1, 2013, which stipulates that within 18 months gestation period, all consumers must be metered,” the organised labour said.

A statement by the labour unions said that the Abuja rally would start at Labour House, Central Business District at 8:00a.m local time, before moving to the NERC head office at Adamawa Plaza, Plot 1099, First Avenue, Off Shehu Shagari Way, Central Business District.