NLC threatens nationwide protest over plans to migrate more electricity consumers to Band A

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to resist any further increase in electricity tariffs, warning the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) against forcefully migrating more consumers to Band A under the pretense of service improvement.

In a strong statement, the NLC declared that it would mobilize its members for nationwide protests should the regulatory agency proceed with any fresh tariff hikes in the power sector.

The congress also issued a warning to telecommunication companies, insisting they must honor the agreement reached with the Federal Government on February 21, which capped telecom service increases at 35 percent.

The decisions were made during the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, where the congress also inaugurated mass transit buses running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for the Northeast region.

In a communiqué signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, the labor body condemned NERC’s reclassification of electricity consumers, arguing that the move was nothing more than a disguised extortion of the masses.

“This systematic exploitation, sanctioned by the Ministry of Power, is nothing short of economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace. It is evident that 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.

“Whereas inflation has soared, wages remain stagnant, and the cost of living has become unbearable, the ruling class continues to transfer the burden of their fiscal irresponsibility onto the already impoverished working masses.

“NEC-in-session warns that any attempt to announce further electricity tariff increases will be met with mass resistance.

“Consequently, the congress resolves to immediately mobilise for a nationwide protest should the Ministry of Power and NERC proceed with their exploitative plan to further hike electricity tariffs under any guise. The NLC shall not stand idly by while the Nigerian people are subjected to the unholy machinations of capitalist profiteers and their state collaborators.”

It added: “On the 35 per cent tariff hike in telecommunications services: NEC acknowledges the agreement reached on February 21, 2025, between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government through the joint 10-man committee, which reduced the initially proposed telecommunications tariff hike from 50 per cent to 35 per cent. However, the congress remains vigilant, recognising the long history of infidelity.

“NEC categorically warns that should the implementation of the agreement on March 1, 2025 not be as agreed, the National Administrative Council (NAC) is mandated to immediately deploy all necessary instruments to enforce compliance in line with the February 10, 2025 Central Working Committee (CWC) directive.”

The NLC urged all its affiliates, industrial unions, and progressive allies to remain on high alert and fully prepared to participate in a decisive mass action against what he called anti-people policies of the state.

“The congress reiterates that no society can sustainably develop under a regime of corporate plunder and neoliberal enslavement. The Nigerian working people must, therefore, remain resolute, organised, and uncompromising in the collective struggle for a fair and equitable Nigeria where the dominance of fat cats at the expense of the masses will be greatly reduced to create a socioeconomic balance,” it added.