Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says the federal government is addressing the concerns raised by the labour unions over the electricity tariff hike.
On Monday, members of organised labour picketed the
headquarters of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the
federal ministry of power and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)
in Abuja.
The protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade
Union Congress (TUC), and other affiliate groups was replicated across Nigeria.
The labour unions were protesting the increase in
electricity tariffs for customers in the Band A category.
On April 3, NERC approved an increase in the electricity
tariff for customers in the classification — from N66 to N225 per kwh.
Organised labour is calling for a reversal of the increase
and a return to the negotiating table.
Addressing State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday at
the end of the federal executive council (FEC) meeting, Adelabu reaffirmed the
government’s commitment to upholding democratic principles, including the right
to peaceful protest.
He said the unions’ demands about the electricity tariff
would be given due consideration.
Adelabu said the federal government is making efforts to
strengthen the power grid, citing the construction of a 93-kilometre
transmission line in the south-east and the acquisition of transformers and
emergency resolution systems.
The minister said the initiatives are aimed at enhancing the
overall resilience of the power infrastructure, which has been a long-standing
concern for both the government and the public.
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Hon minister sir. Addressing the concern is only one way. That is to reverse the price hoke and give equal opportunity to citizens for access to electricity by disbanding all the bands and reverse to status quo
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