NLC Rejects Electricity Tariff Hike

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) wednesday
rejected vehemently the increase of electricity tariffs
announced this week by the Nigerian Electricity
Regulation Commission (NERC).
At the meeting of the Central Working Committee
(CWC) of the NLC held at the Paschal Bafyau Labour
House, it said after exhaustive deliberations, the union
“noted the discordant tunes coming out from different
quarters, including government on fuel subsidy removal
and pump price increase”.NLC further noted that in
other countries, products prices are falling as a result of
the continuing crash in the price of crude oil in the
International market. In our country CWC is shocked
that we are canvassing for price increase.
According to the NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba and
General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the NLC, they
said, “Re-affirmed its opposition to any price increase. It
therefore resolved to mobilize Nigerian to resist any
increase.”
They observed that “there have been discordant tunes
from State Governors on the issue of the National
Minimum Wage. Whereas, at one moment, they deny
that there are plans to reduce the minimum wage, at
another moment, they threaten to sack workers or
reduce the minimum wage;
“The National Minimum Wage of N18,000 has been
rendered valueless by the mindless devaluation of the
Naira and rising inflation. Moreover, it is legally due for
a review;
“It is a national law which no governor can unilaterally
review. Oppose any attempt by any governor to reduce or
tamper with the minimum wage
Mobilise all members of the Congress to any state that
reviews downward the minimum wage or resorts to laying
off workers.”
The NLC contended that “a 45% upward increase in
electricity Tariff at this point in time with the
challenges in the economy, which have adversely
reduced the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians and
slowed down businesses, including manufacturing, is not
justifiable.
“The electricity distribution companies have continued to
exploit Nigerians by estimated billing systems for the
majority of consumers, while deliberately refusing to
make pre-paid metres available.
“It is clear therefore that the 45% Tariff increase is
an additional heavy burden on consumers and will have a
telling effect on business especially manufacturing,” they
stressed.
NLC demanded “that prepaid metres be made available
free to all consumers, and expressed disappointment over
the plan by government to re-introduce toll gates on our
highways and roads.
“Recalling the enormous public resources expended in the
past on the construction and demolition of toll gates,
CWC observed that the proceeds from toll collection
were never effectively deployed for the maintenance of
roads, but lined the pockets of favoured collectors.
Convinced that proceeds from any new toll collections will
suffer the same fate, CWC disagrees with the planned
re-introduction of toll gates,” the NLC submitted.