NLC, TUC Closes Ikeja Electric Headquarters, Demands Reversal of Electricity Tariff Increase

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have initiated actions to shut down operations at various offices of electricity distribution companies in protest against the recent tariff hike for Band A customers.

Members of the NLC and TUC staged protests at the corporate headquarters of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in Lagos and the office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company in Oyo.

Their demonstrations disrupted normal operations, preventing workers from resuming their duties for the day.

The protesters voiced their demands for the reversal of the Band A tariff increase, chanting slogans and advocating for fairer electricity pricing.

Similarly, in Jos members of the NLC and the TUC in Plateau State took action by blocking the entrance of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company headquarters in Jos, as well as picketing the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in the Gold and Base axis of Jos, leaving workers stranded.

The State Chairman of the NLC, Eugene Mangji, leading the union members, stated that the action complied with their national secretariat’s directive to compel authorities to reverse the recent electricity tariff hike.

“We have shut down the NERC office at Gold and Base. Right now, we are at the JED headquarters on Ahmadu Bello Way. We will continue until the right thing is done,” Mangji said.

In response to the protests, the NLC and TUC issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to revert the revised tariff. 

The ultimatum was contained in a joint letter addressed to Sanusi Garba, the chairman/chief executive officer of NERC, and copied to various government officials and electricity distribution companies.

However, the Federal Government cautioned against reversing the tariff, warning that doing so could have adverse effects on the power sector and urging citizens to endure the temporary challenges.