NLC Rejects N8 Billion Budget for Electricity Bill Sensitization, Urges Power Sector Reform

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticized the Federal Ministry of Power’s proposal for a N8 billion budget in 2025 aimed at educating Nigerians on the importance of timely payment of electricity bills. Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, expressed disappointment at the plan, describing it as “absurd” and urging both the Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to focus on addressing the root causes of Nigeria’s power sector challenges rather than wasting funds on an educational campaign.

The proposal, revealed by Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during his budget defense at the National Assembly, seeks to tackle issues such as power theft, poor payment habits, and the protection of national power assets through a nationwide awareness campaign. The Minister emphasized the need for a cultural shift in the public’s understanding of electricity as a paid resource, particularly through social, digital, and print media.

However, Ajaero sharply criticized the Ministry’s leadership, pointing to ongoing corruption, incompetence, and neglect in the sector despite billions of naira invested. In a statement titled “Before The Collapse Of The Power Sector: N8 Billion Budget For Electricity Bill Sensitization And Matters Arising,” the NLC lamented the mismanagement of the power sector and the inability of both NERC and the Ministry to provide effective solutions to the country’s power crisis.

“The Power sector in Nigeria is at the brink of collapse. NERC has consistently failed to regulate or fulfill its duties to consumers, and the Ministry seems more concerned with spending N8 billion to teach Nigerians how to pay electricity bills than fixing the sector,” Ajaero stated. He also highlighted that contractors working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) were owed over N200 billion, further underscoring the sector’s financial mismanagement.

Ajaero also pointed out that the constant collapse of the national grid is a direct result of the government’s failure to prioritize the sector’s needs. The NLC leader noted that, in December 2024, the Union had to intervene to stop the procurement committee from awarding more contracts when they should focus on solving pressing challenges.

The NLC also criticized NERC for its silence regarding unethical practices within the electricity distribution companies, pointing to a case where a whistleblower was unjustly punished instead of protected. This, Ajaero argued, further proved the ineffectiveness of NERC in ensuring transparency and accountability.

Expressing outrage over the proposed budget allocation, Ajaero declared the NLC’s stance clear: the union will not stand by while public funds are squandered on ineffective campaigns. He warned that such actions would only deepen the already severe economic challenges facing Nigeria and erode public trust in government institutions.

The NLC has vowed to continue monitoring developments and will take action if the government persists in using the budget process as a cover for wasteful spending.