The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) of plotting to divert nearly N20 billion through what it described as questionable “emergency refurbishment” contracts, warning that the alleged scheme could further weaken Nigeria’s already fragile electricity transmission network.
Contained in letter dated March 1, 2026 and addressed to the Minister of Power, the labour centre described the proposed spending as a “large-scale heist” allegedly being orchestrated by some officials within the transmission company under the guise of urgent infrastructure repairs.
The letter, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, said the labour movement was deeply alarmed by what it called the systematic attempt to siphon funds from a strategic national asset.
“We write to you with the grave concern of a labour movement watching a strategic national asset being systematically dis-emboweled,” Ajaero said. “We are writing to alert your Ministry of an imminent, large-scale heist being orchestrated within the Transmission Company of Nigeria by a group of officials who have seemingly abandoned their oath of service in favour of a gluttonous rush to cash out and cause the company to collapse.”
According to the NLC, the plan to spend nearly N20 billion from TCN coffers under the banner of “emergency refurbishment” raises serious questions about fiscal discipline and transparency in the management of the country’s power transmission infrastructure.
“Honourable Minister, we demand your immediate intervention to truncate this quest,” the congress stated, adding that the proposed contracts appeared to represent “double-dipping of the highest order, designed to convert public funds into private fortunes for merely signing papers.”
The labour centre cited several projects it described as suspicious, saying there was “no other way to explain the plan to spend N191 million to control erosion on one tower – T89 Ihovbor, Okada; N290,654,361 only for fence and drainage at the Biu 132/33KV Sub-Station; N226,024,555 for just one tower – T27 at Etsako, Okpella Ajaokuta; and N239,498,443.75, among others,” which it said were “very questionable and negating the principles of fiscal discipline.”
Beyond the refurbishment works, the congress alleged that some officials were planning to procure identical equipment repeatedly from the same supplier at escalating costs.
“It is apparent that there are plans to purchase the same item, specifically specialised transformers and switchgears, in multiple batches from the same supplier at escalating costs,” the statement said. “This is not procurement; this is money laundering disguised as grid expansion.”
The NLC further alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to stockpile consumables such as insulators, conductors and clamps at prices far above market value under the pretext of preparing for possible grid collapses.
“There is a scheme to over-stock consumables at far above market value under the guise of preparing for grid collapses,” Ajaero said, warning that the materials might either deteriorate in storage or never be delivered. “These are items that will either be stored and left to rot, or simply never delivered, with the proceeds shared among the procurement committee and the vendors.”
Describing the situation as a “clear and present danger,” the labour centre warned that the alleged cabal within the company was attempting to exploit emergency procurement procedures to circumvent due process.
“The cabal within TCN is hoping to use the cover of ‘emergency’ to bypass due process and bury these crimes in a blizzard of paperwork,” the NLC said, warning that if the procurements proceed, the transmission company would suffer severe operational consequences.
“If these procurements proceed, TCN will not only be poorer, but its operational capacity will be crippled for a decade,” the statement said, adding that the national grid could become “a permanent patient in the emergency room, not because we lack the technology, but because the funds meant to heal it were stolen.”
The congress stressed that it would not remain silent while what it described as the looting of a strategic national asset continued.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress refuses to stand by and watch our members, the engineers, the linesmen and the core staff of TCN, and indeed Nigerians, become victims of this avarice,” Ajaero declared.
The labour body therefore called on the Minister of Power to immediately halt all ongoing emergency procurement processes in the company pending what it described as a comprehensive forensic audit.
It also urged anti-corruption agencies to investigate every item associated with the proposed contracts and scrutinise the role of the procurement leadership and management of the company if found to be involved.
In addition, the congress called for investigations into the alleged sale of land located behind the TCN substation in Katampe, Abuja, as well as what it described as attempts to fast-track the promotion of a staff member employed in September 2021 to the position of Assistant General Manager in 2026 in violation of established employment rules in the organisation.
“We await your urgent response and action,” the NLC said, warning that “the patience of Nigerian workers is not an unlimited resource.”
The labour centre urged the power ministry to act swiftly to prevent further damage to the transmission company and restore confidence in the management of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure.
“Let us work together to save TCN before it is bled to death,” the letter concluded.
- Media Report