The Nigeria Labour Congress has come out strongly against the proposed N6 trillion bailout for power generation companies, citing a lack of tangible improvements in electricity supply nationwide.
The Congress argues that repeated financial interventions have not translated into better power supply for Nigerians, and instead, the burden of inefficiency is borne by ordinary citizens through high tariffs and persistent outages.
Ajaero, the NLC President, has urged the Federal Government to merge the Ministries of Petroleum and Power to create a unified Ministry of Energy, which he believes will lead to better coordination and an integrated energy framework that prioritises domestic electricity needs.
He has also called for an end to the proposed bailout, insisting that public funds should not be used to support failed private investments in the power sector.
The NLC President sees electricity as a social service and a fundamental right, rather than a profit-driven commodity, and is pushing for policies that promote public interest, energy security, and the welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens.
The NLC's rejection of the N6 trillion bailout is a scathing indictment of the power sector's failures under the current framework. The proposed merger of the Ministries of Petroleum and Power is a long-overdue move that could lead to better coordination and more efficient energy distribution. However, the real challenge lies in implementing policies that prioritise public interest and the welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens. The fact that ordinary Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of high tariffs and persistent outages is a stark reminder of the need for urgent structural reforms in the energy sector. The NLC's call for a people-centred roadmap for the power sector is a step in the right direction, but it remains to be seen whether the government will take concrete steps to address the sector's fundamental flaws.
