The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has issued a stern warning of impending nationwide blackout if the Nigerian Government does not reverse the recently approved electricity tariff hike.
In a statement by its acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, NUEE conveyed its ultimatum to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, asserting that decisive action would be taken if the tariff increase is not revoked.
The tariff adjustment, implemented by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on April 3, has sparked widespread condemnation from various quarters, including NUEE, the Nigerian Labour Congress, and the Trade Unions Congress. The hike particularly affects Band A customers, who now face a substantial increase in their electricity bills.
NUEE contends that the notion of providing 20 hours of electricity supply per day, as stipulated in the tariff adjustment, is unrealistic and unattainable in the current state of the power sector. They argue that such a tariff hike is detrimental to the economic well-being of Nigerians, especially considering the country’s relatively low electricity access rate.
Responding to the workers’ concerns, the Minister of Power, speaking through his media aide, emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing power supply in Nigeria. He urged the labour union to consider the broader context behind the tariff adjustment, emphasizing its potential to stimulate economic growth and job creation.
However, since the implementation of the tariff hike, power supply across the country has noticeably declined, with electricity consumers lamenting the insufficient availability of electricity. As tensions escalate between electricity workers and the government, the possibility of a nationwide strike looms large, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the nation’s power supply.
