In a bold move today, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Plateau State have staged a protest, causing a standstill for workers of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The demonstration, aimed at denouncing the recent surge in electricity tariffs, saw the unions barricading the entrances to the respective offices of the electricity providers.
The protesters, led by Eugene Mangji, the Chairman of NLC in Plateau State, voiced their demand for an immediate rollback of the tariff hike. Mangji emphasized that the demonstration was a decisive measure to compel authorities to reverse the recent surge in electricity costs.
“We have shut down the NERC office at Gold and Base. Right now, we are at the JED headquarters on Ahmadu Bello Way. We will persist until justice is served,” declared Mangji during an interaction with journalists amidst the protest.
The NLC and TUC had previously issued an ultimatum to NERC, urging them to rescind the tariff hike or face unprecedented industrial action. The government’s decision to increase electricity tariffs, announced during a press briefing in Abuja by NERC, came into effect on April 3, 2024, raising concerns among various stakeholders.
Although the government had recently approved a downward revision of electricity tariffs for Band A customers, offering some relief to those enjoying a minimum of 20 hours of daily power supply, the NLC and TUC remained adamant in their demand for a complete reversal of the hike.
In a joint letter addressed to the Chairman/CEO of NERC and copied to key government officials and stakeholders, including the Ministers of Labour and Power, as well as the electricity distribution companies (DisCos), Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, Presidents of NLC and TUC respectively, reiterated their stance, giving NERC until May 12 to withdraw the tariff hike.
The unions argue that the tariff hike would have adverse effects on businesses, exacerbate inflation, and stifle the growth of small and medium enterprises. They also contested the government’s claim of areas enjoying up to 20 hours of daily power supply, asserting that such claims were not reflective of the ground reality across the country.
