The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has mulled a nationwide strike if the Federal Government implements its proposed increase in electricity tariffs
The NLC served the above warning as a reminder of the agreement reached on the electricity tariff on September 28, 2020, between the Federal Government and the Organized Labor Committee.
During the meeting with Chris Ngige, then Minister of Labour and Employment, both parties decided to halt tariff increases until the committee finished its work and the report was approved by all committee members.
The notice was issued by NLC President Ayuba Wabba in response to rumours that the 11 power distribution companies had been permitted to slightly raise electricity rates starting on September 1.
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The information came from a customer notification sent by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company on August 25 with the subject line “Re: Tariff increase notification,” purportedly signed by Olumide Anthony-Jerome, general manager of loss reduction.
According to the notice, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission gave its approval.
It read:
“This is to officially notify you that there will be an increase in electricity tariff with effect from September 1, 2021.
“This increase is as a result of the nationwide mandate to implement the Service Based Tariff approved by our regulators.”
A minimum of 20 hours of supply per day is guaranteed under the recently approved plan, which sees rates for customers with lower power consumption capacity increased by N2 per kilowatt hour, from N54.08/kWh to N56.08/kWh. From N56.94/kwh, MD1 Band A customers will now pay N58.94/kWh.
Eko DisCo, however, refuted the aforementioned notice and asserted that any changes would be posted on its website to inform customers.
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But Wabba warned that the organized labor would not put up with any tariff increases in response to the report in a statement on Wednesday titled: “Notice on speculations on increase in electricity tariffs.”
He said:
“We wish to draw your attention to the wave of speculation, especially as widely reported in the media that there are fresh plans to grant approval to electricity distribution companies to hike electricity tariff.
“We write to remind the Honourable Minister that the organised labour on September 28, 2020 through the Federal Government-Organized Labour Committee on Electricity Tariff agreed to freeze further increases in electricity tariff until the committee concludes its work and its report adopted by all the principals in the committee.
“It is in light of this that we dismiss the ongoing speculation on increase in electricity tariff as mere speculations.
“We, however, find it prudent to put you on notice that should government make true the swirling speculation by approving an increase in electricity tariff, Organised Labour would be left with no option than to deploy the industrial mechanisms granted in our laws for the defence of workers’ rights.”
