In a statement issued to newsmen by the President of the union, Joe Ajaero, the union expressed deep concern over the epileptic state of the country’s electricity sector, which according to him is on the brink of total collapse.
Ajaero hinted that if the Ministry of Power is manned by competent officials, there won’t be constant grid collapse, stressing that the national grid has collapsed more under this administration and therefore called for the urgent resignation of the Minister of Power.
Ajaero also slammed the minister over the proposed allocation of ₦8 billion in the 2025 budget for sensitisation of Nigerians on the need to pay electricity bills, accusing the Ministry of Power of prioritising frivolous projects over critical infrastructure.
The NLC president further stated that the N8bn was a misplaced priority, especially when contractors in the Transmission Company of Nigeria are owed over ₦200 billion.
The union also criticized the National Electricity Regulatory Commission for failing to fulfill its regulatory duties.
He said the commission has demonstrated a lack of capacity and an unwillingness to protect electricity consumers, citing a recent incident where NERC allegedly colluded with the board of a distribution company to sack its managing director for exposing unethical practices.
Ajaero noted that the union would continue to monitor developments in the sector and warned against any attempt to use the budget process as a vehicle for wasteful expenditures.
He however called on the federal government to urgently reinvigorate the electricity sector to avert total collapse, adding that failure to address these issues would further erode public confidence in governance.