The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday, 13 May 13, told the federal government to reverse the band A electricity tariff before it will agree to go into any talks.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had on April 3, 2024, announced the approval of a new electricity tariff for band A customers.
The adjustment was from N68/kwh to N125/kwh, an increase the labour unions rejected.
The union consequently pickets all the Discos across the country in a nationwide protest.
Speaking at the Federal Ministry of Power, also known as Power House, Abuja, the NLC president, Joe Ajaero said the government must return to the status- quo before any negotiation with the workers.
The Power Minister, Chief Adebayo Adelabu who was absent because he reportedly attended the Federal Executive Council meeting sent the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mamudan Mamman.
He told the protesting unions that owing to the National Assembly intervention, the minister was set to invite the workers to negotiate the tariff.
Responding, Ajaero said “Go to the status quo because even before you engage have to return to the status quo. So that none of us will negotiate under any pressure and you now start from there. But it can’t be at band Z and band A and ask us to come and discuss. “
He also hinted that the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) would be directed to stop power supply nationwide should the government fail to return to the old band A tariff in a week.
