The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly opposed any proposed increase in electricity tariffs by the Federal Government, warning that it will mobilise mass resistance if such a move is implemented.
In addition, the NLC has threatened to take action against telecommunications companies if they fail to comply with the agreed 35 per cent tariff adjustment, rather than the 50 per cent increase approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
In a communiqué issued following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, the NLC unequivocally condemned the ongoing reclassification of electricity consumers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The union described the move as a deceptive attempt to shift consumers from lower bands to Band A under the pretext of service improvement, while in reality, it results in higher costs for the general public.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has also expressed strong opposition to the proposed tariff hike, accusing the Minister of Power and NERC of prioritising price increases over service improvements.
In a petition to the Minister of Power, NUEE, through its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, challenged the justification for the tariff hike, particularly the claim that it is necessary to improve liquidity in the power sector.
“The argument that a tariff increase is required to stabilise the power sector is deeply flawed, especially given the longstanding issues plaguing the industry,” the union stated.
It further criticised NERC’s claim that the tariff hike would only affect Band A consumers, who reportedly constitute 15 per cent of electricity users but account for 40 per cent of total power consumption. NUEE argued that the wider public would inevitably bear the brunt of the increase, as businesses classified under Band A would pass on additional costs to consumers, exacerbating financial hardship.
The union raised key concerns about the government’s approach, questioning whether tariff increases should take precedence over efforts to enhance efficiency, expand power generation, and improve transmission infrastructure.
“The financial challenges in the power sector, including the N1.6 trillion shortfall in wholesale tariffs, are well known. However, shifting this burden onto struggling consumers is not the right solution,” the petition stated.
NUEE accused the Minister of Power of failing to address the root causes of inefficiencies in the sector and instead focusing on policies that could worsen economic hardship.
“It is deeply concerning that rather than alleviating the suffering of the masses, the Minister appears intent on implementing measures that will escalate poverty levels. The attempt to impose high electricity costs across the board will only deepen economic distress.”
The union reiterated that Nigerians deserve a reliable, efficient, and affordable power supply that supports economic growth and improves quality of life. Instead of increasing tariffs, it called on the government to prioritise sustainable reforms, including investments in power generation, improved infrastructure, and a comprehensive review of the electricity sector’s privatisation, which it described as a failure.
“The power sector was privatised over 12 years ago, yet the government has not undertaken a proper assessment of its performance. Any tariff increase must be matched by a corresponding improvement in service delivery—Nigerians should not be paying for darkness.”
Calling on the Minister to reconsider his approach, NUEE urged him to pursue policies that would benefit all Nigerians rather than imposing further financial burdens on struggling households.
