The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the resignation of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and other officials within the Ministry of Power over the persistent collapse of the national power grid.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a statement issued late Tuesday, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the power sector as being on the verge of total collapse.
“If the Ministry of Power is manned by competent officials, the now embarrassing constant grid collapse would have been averted,” Ajaero said. He criticized the minister’s recent statement suggesting that such collapses were inevitable, calling it “a clear admission of incapacity and failure.”
Ajaero pointed out that the grid has collapsed more times under the current administration than during the tenure of all previous leaders combined. He urged the officials to resign, stating that Nigerians expect a more serious approach to resolving the power crisis.
Criticism of 2025 Budget Allocation
The NLC also criticized the proposed ₦8 billion allocation in the 2025 budget for sensitizing Nigerians on how to pay electricity bills.
“The Power sector in Nigeria is at the brink of collapse as the helmsmen have repeatedly shown gross incompetence,” Ajaero said. He added that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has failed to regulate the sector effectively, despite the powers granted to it by the Electricity Act of 2023.
“It is therefore not surprising that power grid collapse is now a constant as it has continued to succumb to greed and crass incompetence,” he said.
Unions’ Interventions and TCN Debt
Ajaero highlighted the intervention of unions in December 2024, which prevented additional burdens on the sector. He revealed that contractors for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are owed over ₦200 billion, further crippling the sector.
“While contractors are owed, the Minister seeks ₦8 billion to educate Nigerians on paying their electricity bills. This is a misplaced priority,” he said.
Condemnation of NERC
The union also criticized NERC for failing to fulfill its regulatory mandate. Ajaero condemned the commission for punishing a whistleblower instead of rewarding them, calling it a sign of the agency’s inefficiency.
“It is unimaginable that NERC, tasked with ensuring transparency and efficiency, would take such actions. This clearly shows they are not prepared to discharge their responsibilities,” he said.
The NLC pledged to monitor developments in the sector closely and ensure public funds are not wasted.
“Incompetence must not be rewarded, and those responsible must be held accountable,” Ajaero concluded.
