As Ajaero leads protesters to NERC HQ
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was at the forefront of the protest organized against the recent hike in electricity tariff. They took the protest to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
The protest was called by the labour unions to mount pressure on the government for the immediate reversal of the hike in electricity tariff.
Members of the organised labour also picketed the offices of the NERC and the premises of the distribution companies (DisCos) nationwide over the hike in electricity tariff.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), at the weekend, directed their members to picket the DiSCos nationwide to protest the tariff hike.
NERC announced the hike in the electricity tariff for Band A customers on April 3 in Abuja.
And in apparent compliance with the directive, the protesters reportedly shut down the headquarters of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) in Plateau State.
Reports said the labour union blocked the main gate of the company, leaving the staff of DisCo stranded outside the main building.
Also in Benin City, Edo State, business activities at the headquarters of BEDC Plc were paralysed following the picketing of the premises by members of labour unions, on the directive of the NLC and TUC.
The protesters also sealed off the State’s office of the NERC located along Igbesamwan Junction, Akpakpava Road.
The State chairman of NLC, Odion Olaye, who led the pocketing action, described it as hugely successful.
He called on electricity consumers in the State to join the organised labour in the struggle to bring down the price for the service.
He said: “The message to electricity consumer in edo state US that they should join the struggle so that they can bring the down the price of electricity down to the nearest minimum. We are asking them to revert to the former price which is N65 per kilowatt.
“The offices of the BEDC and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission will remain locked until we get directive from the national headquarters of the Unions to unlock them.”
Also speaking on the need for the picketing exercise, the state chairman of TUC, Comrade Aighowahi James, described the hike in electricity price as death penalty to the ordinary workers in the country.
“We are here this morning to picket this DisCo and NERC. The reason is that we want a reversal from N225 to N65 as it was before. The reason is that the hike in tariff is a death penalty to the workers, it’s a nightmare to the workers, it’s a masquerade to the workers and to the society at large.
“We all know the importance of electricity, once the tariff is increased, it affects every facet of life and for that reason, the national said they should reverse it and to enable them enhance the reversal, that’s the reason for the picketing,” he said.
On his part, the Zonal Organising Secretary, Edo/Delta Zone of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Nash Shuaibu, lamented the negative impact of the hike in price of electricity on its members.
He added that the environment is no longer conducive for them to work.
According to him, “As members of National Union of Electricity Employees, we had cried out to the Nigeria Labour Congress series of time about the maltreatment, the molestation, the beatings our staff receive outside because of this in ease in tarrif.
“The environment is no longer conducive for us to work, and it is as a result of this hike in tarrif.
We have cried to the Congress to help us because electricity workers are really dehumanized, they are scared to go out for work because the customers do not have electricity supplied to them, yet, we bring bills to them.
“We are appealing to the NLC to address this issue with the NEC and the necessary agencies to ensure that our staff are protected,” he added.
Meanwhile, the management of BEDC Plc has directed its employees to work remotely for their safety.
The management, through a statement by its Acting Head, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Evelyn Gbiwen, said BEDC is actively engaging with all stakeholders to resolve this issue promptly, adding that the safety and well-being of its employees and customers is its top priority.
The statement said: “The safety and well-being of our employees and customers is our top priority. To ensure everyone’s safety and prevent any damage to critical infrastructure, BEDC has directed its workforce to work remotely today.
“Our customer care lines remain operational, and our dedicated teams are working remotely to provide continued support to our valued customers. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience.
“BEDC is actively engaging with all stakeholders to resolve this issue promptly and resume delivering reliable service to our esteemed customers.