The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) has threatened to declare an industrial strike should the Federal Government implement a proposed hike in electricity tariffs.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said this on Wednesday while reacting to speculations that 11 power distribution companies had received approval to slightly increase electricity tariffs from September 1.
The NLC reminded the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, about the agreement reached on September 28, 2020, between the government and the Organised Labour Committee on Electricity Tariff.
The meeting had agreed to freeze further increases in electricity tariff until the committee submits its recommendations.
Wabba in a statement on Wednesday titled ‘Notice on speculations on increase in electricity tariffs, cautioned that the organised labour would not tolerate any tariff hike.
He stated, “We wish to draw your attention to the wave of speculation, especially as widely reported in the media that there are fresh plans to approve electricity distribution companies to hike electricity tariff.
“We write to remind the Honourable Minister that the organised labour on September 28, 2020, through the Federal Government-Organized Labour Committee on Electricity Tariff agreed to freeze further increases in electricity tariff until the committee concludes its work and its report adopted by all the principals in the committee.
“It is in light of this that we dismiss the ongoing speculation on increase in electricity tariff as mere speculations.
“We, however, find it prudent to put you on notice that should the government make true the swirling speculation by approving an increase in electricity tariff, Organised Labour would be left with no option than to deploy the industrial mechanisms granted in our laws for the defence of workers’ rights.”
NLC’s reaction follows a notification sent to customers of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company on August 25 titled ‘Re: Tariff increase notification’, purportedly signed by the General Manager, Loss Reduction, Olumide Anthony-Jerome.
The notice claimed that the approval was from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
It read, “This is to officially notify you that there will be an increase in electricity tariff with effect from September 1, 2021. This increase is as a result of the nationwide mandate to implement the Service-Based Tariff approved by our regulators.”
According to the newly approved plan, customers with lower power consumption capacity have their rates increased by N2 per kilowatts hour from N54.08/kWh to N56.08/kWh and are promised at least 20 hours of supply daily.MD1 customers on Band A will pay N58.94/kWh from N56.94/kwh.
However, Eko DisCo has denied the notice, saying customers would be informed of any change in price on its website.
Interestingly, the purported electricity tariff hike was reported on the day President Muhammadu Buhari sacked the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman.
