The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to mobilize workers and citizens for a nationwide protest if the Federal Government proceeds with its proposed electricity tariff hike.
The NLC describes the hike as “economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace.“
The union rejected the proposed tariff hike, accusing the Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of attempting to force consumers into higher tariff bands under the pretext of service improvement. The congress argues that this move will deepen economic hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, on February 28, 2025, the group said the increase is a “sham reclassification” of electricity consumers by NERC.
According to the NLC, the proposed tariff hike seeks to align tariffs for customers in the Band B and C categories with the ₦206/KWh rate paid by Band A customers. However, the congress claims that this move will only serve to increase the financial burden on already struggling Nigerians.
National Union of Electricity Employees’ React
Meanwhile, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) appear to back the NLC, rejecting the proposed tariff increase as an exploitative agenda designed to force Nigerians into paying more without any corresponding improvement in service delivery.
The NUEE argued that the justification given by NERC for the electricity hike in 2024 was that the hike was attributed to only Band A consumers, who make up only 15% of electricity consumers and utilise 40% of the nation’s electricity consumption, with a promise that the hike would not affect the general public.
However, the union claimed that the general public would ultimately bear the brunt of the tariff hike, as the additional costs would be transferred to consumers through higher prices for goods and services.
Protests and Resistance
The NLC mandated its National Administrative Council to begin immediate mobilization for protests, warning that the government must not test the patience of the Nigerian people.
The NUEE also vowed to resist any attempt to hike tariffs and warned of disruptions in the sector should the government proceed with its plans.
Beyond electricity, the NLC expressed concerns over the recent 35% increase in telecommunications tariffs.
While acknowledging an agreement with the Federal Government to reduce the initial proposed hike from 50% to 35%, Congress remains skeptical of the government’s commitment to keeping its word.
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