The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plan by a faction within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to spend nearly N20 billion under the pretext of emergency grid refurbishment, a move the labour body claims could cripple the country’s power infrastructure for years.
In a strongly worded letter to Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the Congress described the plan as a “clear and present danger” to the financial and operational integrity of TCN. The letter accused some officials of forming a cabal within the company with the intention of exploiting the guise of “emergency refurbishment” to bypass due process and misappropriate public funds.
“The plan, under the cover of emergency procurement, appears less like a genuine operational necessity and more like a calculated effort to fleece a company already struggling with financial constraints,” Ajaero wrote. He warned that if the alleged procurement scheme proceeds unchecked, TCN would not only be poorer but its ability to maintain and expand the national grid could be compromised for up to a decade.
The NLC said the cabal was hoping to “bury the crimes in a blizzard of paperwork,” exploiting loopholes that could allow them to execute the contracts without proper oversight or accountability. According to the labour body, such moves, if implemented, would erode public trust in TCN and undermine ongoing efforts to stabilize Nigeria’s electricity supply.
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The allegations come amid broader concerns over transparency and governance in the power sector. TCN, responsible for transmitting electricity across Nigeria, has historically faced financial difficulties, aging infrastructure, and bureaucratic bottlenecks that have hindered nationwide power distribution. NLC’s warning suggests that further mismanagement could exacerbate the country’s energy challenges, leading to prolonged outages and increased operational costs.
Ajaero called on the Minister of Power to intervene immediately, urging that any planned emergency procurements undergo full scrutiny to ensure that public funds are safeguarded. The NLC also stressed the need for stringent oversight mechanisms and accountability measures to prevent further financial hemorrhage within the company.
Beyond the financial implications, the Congress emphasized the broader impact on Nigeria’s economic and industrial sectors, which rely heavily on a stable electricity supply. “Weakening TCN through reckless spending not only affects the company’s balance sheet but risks crippling the nation’s power grid, with ripple effects on businesses, households, and economic growth,” the letter stated.
The NLC has pledged to monitor the situation closely and warned that labour action could follow should evidence of mismanagement or fund diversion emerge. Meanwhile, stakeholders in the power sector, including regulators and investors, have been urged to ensure transparency and due process in all emergency refurbishments and capital expenditure plans.
With TCN already navigating financial pressures and technical challenges, the labour body’s allegations have intensified scrutiny on the power sector, highlighting the urgent need for reform and robust governance. The unfolding controversy underscores the delicate balance between urgent infrastructure upgrades and accountability in Nigeria’s critical energy sector.
