By SpringNewsNG | March 3, 2025

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, threatening mass protests if the proposed electricity tariff hike is implemented.

In a communiqué released after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, the union described the planned increase as “economic violence” against workers and the broader Nigerian populace. The NLC vowed to mobilize nationwide resistance against what it views as an unjust policy.

However, the NLC is not alone in its opposition. The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) also condemned the move, accusing the government of forcing Nigerians to “pay for darkness” without any real improvement in power supply.

Consumer Reclassification Sparks Outrage

A major point of contention is the recent reclassification of electricity consumers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The NLC dismissed this as a deceptive strategy to push more Nigerians into higher tariff bands under the guise of service improvement, warning that it would only deepen economic hardship.

“The ruling elite, acting as enforcers of global monopoly capital, are determined to further deepen the misery of the Nigerian people through incessant tariff hikes, increased taxation, and relentless economic strangulation,” the NLC stated.

The union’s message was clear: any attempt to impose higher electricity tariffs would be met with mass resistance. It directed the National Administrative Council to begin immediate mobilization for protests, warning the government not to test the patience of Nigerians.

Telecom Tariff Hike Also Under Scrutiny

Electricity tariffs are not the only issue fueling tensions. The NLC also criticized the recent 35% increase in telecommunications tariffs.

Although the union acknowledged an agreement with the government to reduce the initial proposed hike from 50% to 35%, it expressed skepticism about whether the government would honor this arrangement.

The NLC warned that if the new telecom tariffs—set to take effect on March 1, 2025—are implemented contrary to agreed terms, it would take decisive action.

“The Nigerian worker should not bear the brunt of corporate and government inefficiencies,” the union emphasized.

Electricity Workers Reject Tariff Increase

The NUEE has thrown its weight behind the NLC’s stance, rejecting the consumer reclassification as an exploitative agenda designed to extract more money from Nigerians without improving service delivery.

In a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, the NUEE criticized the government’s approach, arguing that the real issue isn’t tariffs but the failure of the power sector to provide reliable electricity.

“We asked some salient questions: Who are the Band A consumers? Who bears the brunt of the electricity hike? The general public will be most affected. They are the customers and end-users, and the additional costs will ultimately be passed down to them, worsening their already dire economic situation,” the union stated.

Rather than focusing on tariff increases, the NUEE urged the government to prioritize fixing the country’s longstanding power sector inefficiencies.

As tensions rise, all eyes are on the government’s next move. Will it reconsider the tariff hike, or will it risk a nationwide protest from organized labor?