NLC threatens protest over migration of lower electricity tariffs to Band A

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened a nationwide protest over plans by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to migrate electricity consumers from lower tariffs to Band A.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

The communique, jointly signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, was made available to newsmen on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

The NLC said it “unequivocally” rejected the ongoing reclassification of electricity consumers by the NERC.

The union said the plan to migrate consumers from lower bands to Band A under the guise of service improvement would lead to unjustified extortion of the masses and economic hardship for the working class and Nigerians at large.

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It stated that the migration would further deepen the misery of Nigerians.

The NLC noted: “Whereas inflation has soared, wages remain stagnant, and the cost of living has become unbearable.

“The NEC-in-session warned that any attempt to announce further electricity tariff increases would be met with mass resistance.

“The Congress resolved to immediately mobilise for a nationwide protest should the Ministry of Power and NERC proceed with their exploitative plan to further hike electricity tariffs under any guise.”

The NLC said its NEC acknowledged the agreement reached between NLC and the federal government through the Joint 10-Man Committee, which reduced the initially proposed telecommunications tariff hike from 50 to 35 per cent.

The union said NEC resolved that if the agreement was not implemented by March 1, it will direct its National Administrative Council (NAC) to deploy all necessary instruments to enforce compliance.

The Star