Workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have started a nationwide protest against the recent increase in electricity tariffs in the country.
The NLC had called for the protest after repeatedly calling on the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission to suspend the recent increase in tariffs.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, who described the tariff hike as outrageous, said it was the fifth in a row since 2012 and unacceptable.
In a statement calling for the protest Wabba said, “It is a nationwide protest, meaning that the 36 states of the Federation including Abuja will be involved in this action.
“Our members have been sufficiently mobilised and are ready to go. If you are an electricity consumer and you are not happy with the bills electricity companies serve you every month, you are invited to join this protest rally.”
Civil society groups and activists also expressed support for the protest and mobilised their members for it.
In Abuja, protesters could be seen carrying placards expressing their disdain for the tariff increase with some bearing such inscriptions as “We won’t pay more for darkness”.
Some of the workers came out as early as 7am for the protest, which started at the Labour House in the Central Business District Abuja.
The workers are expected to protest at NERC offices and in the case of Abuja, the protest will extend to the National Assembly.
The NERC had introduced the new power tariff regime in December, outlining the various rates of increase in energy charges for consumers across the country.
It also announced the removal fixed electricity charges for all classes of electricity consumers and noted that power users would only pay for what they consume.
The new tariffs became effective February 1. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
This APC's NLC self. Whom do you want to deceive? Nigerians are wise now. So stop all these roforofo fight . It is clear that APC and Today's NLC na One.
ReplyDeleteYou think Baba Buhari go settle Una. Infact nothing for you people oooo! You want to make noise so that Baba will call una officials and settle, Abi? That na Before ooo! Baba Dey for real change oo.
ReplyDeleteThis Nigerian government people with senseless and wicked act to the people, how could hike in price of electricity be up to 45%. this is absolute wickedness to the people, insensitivity of the masses suffering. Is this the change the masses are asking for, are the masses meant to pay for the development of the nations electricity with already too low minimum wage that is no way to compare to their counterparts take home in similar countries around the world. This is fraud, and it is a callous attitude to Nigerian people. The thieves that bought the power compny are still trying to milk the masses, instead of them to invest and way for return. On the other hand, they want to use the people's hard earned money and still make immediate profit. Nigerians, we need to do something about this people as they are taking Nigerians for a ride, how long shall we continue to wallow in poverty artificially created by this thieves year in year out. 80% of Nigerians don,t have single idea how much we are suffering in the hands of this thieves called Nigerian government, we all need to at least taste the good quality life citizens of nations that do not have 1/3 of our entire resources what they are enjoying in terms of affordable and available basic amenities, many of us will carry guns and kill all these idiots walahi....
ReplyDeleteThis Nigerian government people with senseless and wicked act to the people, how could hike in price of electricity be up to 45%. this is absolute wickedness to the people, insensitivity of the masses suffering. Is this the change the masses are asking for, are the masses meant to pay for the development of the nations electricity with already too low minimum wage that is no way to compare to their counterparts take home in similar countries around the world. This is fraud, and it is a callous attitude to Nigerian people. The thieves that bought the power compny are still trying to milk the masses, instead of them to invest and way for return. On the other hand, they want to use the people's hard earned money and still make immediate profit. Nigerians, we need to do something about this people as they are taking Nigerians for a ride, how long shall we continue to wallow in poverty artificially created by this thieves year in year out. 80% of Nigerians don,t have single idea how much we are suffering in the hands of this thieves called Nigerian government, we all need to at least taste the good quality life citizens of nations that do not have 1/3 of our entire resources what they are enjoying in terms of affordable and available basic amenities, if only we can taste these, many of us will carry guns and kill all these idiots walahi....
ReplyDeleteWe no go gree o,we no go gree,Discos and Fashola tariff increment,we no go gree,only thing we want is prepaid meters
ReplyDelete