Mrs Florence Eke, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Power disclosed this to the media hours after the labour unions disrupted activities at the ministry in Abuja, on Monday
The Federal Government will next week hold a crucial meeting to address the demands by organised labour for the restoration of the power subsidy and the reversal of the hike in electricity tariff.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) took their protest of the electricity tariff hike to offices of distribution companies (DisCos) on Monday.
Members of organised labour are protesting the increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A category.
On April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers in the classification — from N66 to N225 per kilowatt.
The unions blocked the headquarters of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
NLC and TUC also protested at the offices of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), as well as that of the Electricity Regulatory Commission of Nigeria (ERCN).
Expressing their displeasure at the increment, the organised labour called for a reversal of the increase for customers under this category.
Speaking during the protest, Abimbola Fasasi, TUC Osun state chairman, said the protest aimed to convey a message and inform the federal government that Nigerians find the increase in electricity tariff unacceptable.
“The FG must reverse its decision on electricity tariff increment. We do not want it at this time,” Fasasi said.
“The government has to develop and improve on electricity generation and supply.
“How many megawatts is Nigeria generating? They are just pumping money into power without results and they want to heap the expenses on Nigerians.
We are saying NO to electricity increment and additional burden on Nigerians and that is why we are here today picketing IBEDC offices.”
Fasasi expressed hope that the protest would produce outcomes within the next two to three weeks.
He added that if there is no reversal, labour unions would initiate a total strike, effectively shutting down the Nigerian economy.
Also speaking, Christopher Arapasopo, NLC Osun state chairman, reiterated labour’s stance that the recent electricity tariff hike by the NERC must be reversed.
“You will recall that on April 3, NERC announced increase in electricity tariff, and this is killing Nigerians and Nigerian workers say no to this,” Arapasopo said.
We ought to enjoy power supply for at least 20 hours, but I cannot recollect the last time power was supplied to us for eight hours.
” Recently we had the issue of fuel scarcity and again, we are battling with hike in electricity tariff. The federal government has to do the needful.”
On his part, Clement Fatuase, TUC Ondo state chairman, urged President Bola Tinubu to stop various harsh economic policies his administration had been introducing in the last one year.
Fatuase said until the government reverses the new electricity tariff hike, BEDC and other DisCos offices would remain shut down.
