The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to mobilize workers and citizens for a nationwide protest if the Federal Government of Nigeria proceeds with its proposed electricity tariff hike, describing it as “economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace.”
This came as the National Union of Electricity Employees warned the Nigerian government against plans to hike electricity tariffs, saying Nigerians should not be paying for darkness.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, on February 28, 2025, which was made available to journalists on Sunday, the NLC rejected what it called a “sham reclassification” of electricity consumers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.”
It accused the Ministry of Power and NERC of attempting to force consumers into higher tariff bands under the pretext of service improvement while, in reality, deepening economic hardship.
“The ruling elite, acting as enforcers of global monopoly capital, are determined to further deepen the misery of the Nigerian people through incessant tariff hikes, increased taxation, and relentless economic strangulation,” the statement said.
The NEC resolved that “any attempt to impose additional electricity tariffs would be met with mass resistance.” It mandated its “National Administrative Council to begin immediate mobilization for protests,” warning that the government must not test the patience of the Nigerian people.
Beyond electricity, the NLC also expressed concerns over the recent 35 percent increase in telecommunications tariffs.
While the Congress acknowledged an agreement with the Federal Government to reduce the initial proposed hike from 50 percent to 35 percent, it remained skeptical of the government’s commitment to keeping its word.
The union further warned that if the new telecom tariffs, set to take effect on March 1, 2025, are implemented contrary to the agreed terms, it would enforce compliance using all necessary instruments.
The congress emphasized that Nigerian workers should not bear the brunt of corporate and government inefficiencies.
The NLC’s stance on electricity tariffs has been reinforced by workers in the power sector, who have also rejected the reclassification of consumers.
The electricity workers’ union described the move as an exploitative agenda designed to force Nigerians into paying more without any corresponding improvement in service delivery.
