NLC, NUEE reject reclassification of electricity consumers

Any attempt to reclassify electricity consumers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will be resisted, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has also rejected the planned reclassification.

Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Dominic Igwebike, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the migration of consumers is not acceptable.

He said, “NUEE unequivocally rejects the ongoing sham reclassification of electricity consumers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which seeks to forcefully migrate consumers from lower bands to Band A under the guise of service improvement while, in reality, imposing unjustified extortion on the masses. This systematic exploitation, sanctioned by the Ministry of Power, is nothing short of economic violence against the working class and the broader Nigerian populace.”

NUEE argued that 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. While 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.

“NLC-in-session warns that any attempt to announce further electricity tariff increases will be met with mass resistance. Consequently, the Congress resolved 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