NLC, TUC, and Civil Societies Organize Nationwide Pickets for Reversal of Electricity Tariff and Taxes
NLC, TUC, and Civil Societies Organize Nationwide Pickets for Reversal of Electricity Tariff and Taxes
By RSM reporter
On Monday, 13th of May, the two leading labour unions in Nigeria and the civil society picketed the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Ministry of Power, and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to demand the reversal of the increased electricity tariff.
NERC recently increased the electricity tariff and placed consumers on different bands. When there was widespread opposition to this increase, the Minister of Power said that if Nigerians wanted regular electricity, they had to pay for it.
Shortly after, organized labour threatened to picket NERC and other relevant stakeholders. NERC then approved a downward review of end-user tariffs for Band “A” customers from NGN225/kWh to NGN206.8/kWh. But this did not go well with Nigerians. It was considered a reduction that is not significant and so, cannot be allowed. Nigerians want a total reversal.
During the picketing, leaders from both labour centres addressed workers and called for a total reversal of the tariff, insisting that the government must find a lasting solution to end the erratic power supply. All the speakers spoke against the Tinubu government’s attempt to listen to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
The labour leaders in their speeches also declared that since the subsidy on PMS was removed about a year ago, Nigerians have been suffering from hyperinflation, and the government has not increased the minimum wage.
The means of transportation the government promised has also not been launched. For these reasons, organized labour and Nigerians want an end to all anti-poor policies.
Workers and activists during the pickets bore placards with different descriptions such as “No to Tariff Hike,” “No to IMF/World Bank,” “Electricity Tariff Increase + Fuel Pump Increase is Suicidal,” “Enough of Excuses, Give us Light,” “Privatisation of Power has Failed,” “IMF/WORLD BANK Leave Nigeria Alone,” “220kWh is Killing Us, Reverse it Now,” “Give us Meter, No to Estimated Billing,” and many more.
The three places that the workers visited during the pickets were very significant in the power sector. However, the representatives of each of them gave excuses and declared that they did not have the power to reverse the increase. They promised to send the message from organized labour to the appropriate quarters.
Despite heavy rainfall, the pickets were massively attended by workers and were a huge success in many parts of Nigeria. They also gained support from onlookers in Abuja, where comrades participated.
However, the mobilization of ordinary people from the informal sector, such as farmers, market women, and community people affected by these policies, was not achieved for this event.
It’s not new that the Tinubu administration is anti-poor. Just a few days ago, the government announced that Nigerians would pay for a cybersecurity tax. There was a reversal immediately after Nigerians took to social media to condemn such a tax. It’s clear that the Tinubu government will not rest on their tactics and will continue to listen to the IMF and World Bank.
What we need is to get organized and prepare to fight for a new minimum wage that matches inflation and also to prepare to reject attempts to place a tax burden on ordinary people.
Cross section of partipants during the rally
It’s important to note that the labour leaders’ capitulation to the removal of the subsidy on PMS last year has badly affected the economy and the floating of the Nigerian currency.
The Tinubu administration has removed the subsidy on gas, kerosene, and diesel, but these are still very costly. The government claimed to have returned the subsidy on PMS but still continues with the same corruption in the payment of subsidies without transparency.
The labour movement, in general, must be ready to fight the Tinubu government with a clear-cut anti-neo-liberal program. The power sector has suffered from massive corruption both from past and present governments.
For instance, billions of dollars have been spent in the sector from 1999 till today, yet no additional megawatts have been added to power generation. Despite privatization, the national grid has collapsed nine times in the last year. This has resulted in many businesses folding up and many people leaving Nigeria for other countries.