Breaking: Labour picketers leave workers stranded at Jos DisCo, NERC

On Monday, members of the Trade Union Congress and the Nigerian Labour Congress in Plateau State barricaded the entrance to the Jos Electricity Distribution Company headquarters in Jos, the state capital.

The union members also picketed the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, which are situated in Jos along the Gold and Base axis, leaving their employees stranded.

The union members were led by Eugene Mangji, the State Chairman of the NLC, who told The PUNCH in Jos that the action was carried out in accordance with a directive from their national secretariat, which sought to compel the government to undo the recent increase in the nation’s energy tariff.

“We have shot down the NERC office at Gold and Base. Right now, we are the JED headquarters at the Ahmadu Bello Way. We will continue until the right thing is done,” the NLC chairman stated.

According to The PUNCH, the Nigerian energy Regulatory Commission (NERC) was given till May 12th by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) counterpart to reverse the recent increase in energy pricing, failing which there will be historic industrial action.

The demand was sent in a joint letter dated May 3, 2024, addressed to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Ministers of Labor and Power, and the electricity distribution companies (DisCos), which included Festus Osifo, President of the NLC, and Joe Ajaero, President of the TUC.

The letter read: “This is to refer you to our May Day address where we expressed grave concerns regarding the recent announcement of an astronomical hike in electricity tariff across the nation from N65/kWh to N225/Kwh by your commission.

‘’We believe that this decision is not just morally reprehensible considering the difficulties Nigerians are faced with currently, but it blatantly disregards fundamental principles and statutory obligations.

‘’It is a slap in the face of justice and fairness, and we will not stand idly by as the masses and workers are subjected to such unacceptable exploitation.

“As the electricity sector regulator, it is imperative that your commission grasps the weight of its responsibilities. NERC’s role entails the regulation of electricity tariffs in the country, a duty outlined in explicit detail within the statutes governing the commission.

“Yet, with this recent tariff hike, which you have consented to, it is evident that the Commission has forsaken its duty and abandoned the people it was meant to protect to the fat cats in the electricity industry.

“We are miffed that NERC has become a tacit collaborator in crafting the oppressive pricing regime being perpetuated against Nigerian workers and people. The Laws that set up the commission mandate it to act as an unbiased ombudsman in the electricity industry.

“Unfortunately, the reverse is the case as it has acted in cahoots with the Distribution Companies, DisCos, and the Generating Companies, GenCos, to promote their nefarious market practices.

“The announced tariff hike not only defies the established procedure mandated by law but also tramples upon the rights of Nigerian citizens. It is a flagrant abuse of power and a clear violation of the trust bestowed upon your commission by the Nigerian people. Such actions will not be tolerated, and we refuse to accept them as the new norm.

“Nigerian workers and masses led by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, stand united in denouncing this injustice. We must defend the rights of our fellow citizens against exploitation.

“Therefore, we demand an immediate reversal of the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kwh, immediate cessation of the discriminatory practice of segregating electricity consumers into arbitrary bands, and restoration of the supremacy of the statutes governing the conduct of operators within the electricity industry.

“We give you until Sunday, May 12, 2024, to comply. Failure to do so will result in swift and decisive action on our part as we will not hesitate to mobilise our members and occupy all NERC’s offices and those of the DisCos nationwide until justice is served.”