Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Monday, assured organised labour and civil society organisations (CSOs) of the National Assembly’s commitment to engage the Executive over the recent 45 percent hike in electricity tariff.
Leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) also issued a two-week ultimatum to the 10-member Committee, set up by the Federal Government to conclude its negotiation as part of efforts toward resolving the contentious issues raised by the organised labour.
The committee comprises a five-member delegation the from Federal Government and a five-member delegation from the organised labour group.
In Lagos, hundreds of placard carrying protesters picketed the office of Ikeja Electric (IE), the former Ikeja Distribution Company, located on Awolowo Way, and insisted that the action would continue until the tariff hike was reversed. But Aigbe Olotu, the chief finance officer of IE, who spoke to journalists in front of the company, described labour’s action as a misplacement of priority.
He said the company was not in the right position to resolve labour’s grievances, as the ministry of Power as well as the National Electricity Regulatory Commission were involved. ”There are issues raised by the labour. Some issues are larger than us and we want to direct labour to the higher level, while some of the issues are something we can handle,” Olotu said.
He added that though every customer was yet to receive pre-paid meters, the company gives out N11, 000 meters monthly to its subscribers.
Addressing thousands of protesters who called for an immediate reversal of the new electricity tariff announced by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) at the National Assembly cascade, Saraki pledged to ensure that the will and welfare of the people prevail.
The protesters, who commenced the rally from Labour House, walked en-mass to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), NERC headquarters and National Assembly complex, with varieties of solidarity songs to express their dissatisfaction over the imposed tariff without due consultation with the National Assembly and organised labour.
Some of the placards displayed read: “Give us prepaid meters,” “We cannot pay more for darkness,” “Increase electricity supply,” “We are not happy with the recent 45% increase in electricity tariff,” “Say No to privatisation of PHCN, DISCOs and GENCOs,” “Privatisation is corruption,” “NERC, enforce MoU on privatisation,” “Who sell NEPA no go die better,” among others.
Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, said the 45% to 65% increment was outrageous, and wold further heighten the current economic hardship of millions of poor Nigerians.
Stressing the need for NERC to obey subsisting court order, the NLC chief called for amendment of the extant laws with the view to strengthen the regular body against unilateral increase in the tariff.
Wabba argued that the services rendered by the new owners of the privatised companies lack the capacity to run the sector effectively and efficiently, five years after taking over.
He also kicked against the unilateral hike in the electricity tariff on yearly basis and flagrant breach of the privatisation agreement of metering all electricity consumers within 18 months of taking over.
Boiboi Kaigama, president, Trade Union Congress (TUC) warned that the organised labour would resort to self-help of taking over the offices of NERC, as well as the headquarters and all the offices of DISCOs and GENCOs, if the Federal Government failed to comply with the demand of the workers.
He insisted that the new electricity tariff must be halted, pending the resolution of all contentious issues on the policy.
On his part, Dipo Fashina, chairman, Joint Action for Labour and Civil Society argued that the privatisation of essential services such as electricity, which was a primary responsibility of government, was in breach of the Nigerian Constitution.
While calling for the intervention of the Legislature to reverse all the privatisation of public assets including roads, airlines, railway, hospitals, Ajaokuta Steel and other essential services, Fashina emphasised the need for immediate reversal of the new electricity tariff.
JOSHUA BASSEY & KEHINDE AKINTOLA
