Protests begin over increase in electricity tariff

The Organised Labour have commenced nationwide protests this Monday, over the increase in electricity tariff and removal of subsidy from the power sector by the Federal Government.

This was confirmed by the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Olatunji Ambali and the National Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Tommy Etim, in separate interviews with Punch.

They insisted on the reversal of the tariff hike to the subsidy era.

The labour action is expected to lead to the shutdown of the Abuja headquarters of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Power and state offices of power distribution companies.

The NERC announced the hike in the electricity tariff for Band A customers at a press briefing in Abuja on April 3, revealing that those affected would pay N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous rate of N68/kWh.

The hike represented a 240 per cent increase.

The development marked the removal of subsidy from the tariff of customers in the Band A category, who constituted about 15 per cent of the total 12.82 million power consumers across the country.

The government stated that the decision took effect on April 3, 2024, adding that Band A customers would enjoy up to 20 hours of power supply daily.

However, the House of Representatives, organised labour, the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, electricity consumers and civil society organisations, demanded a reversal of the hike to the subsidy era tariff.