Ajaero leading Labour members in a procession
Members of the organised labour on Monday kept their promise to picket the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and distribution companies (DisCos)’s premises nationwide over the hike in electricity tariff.
The picketing which commenced early Monday morning was on account of a joint directive from the leadership of both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at weekend to their members to picket these offices in protest of the tariff hike.
The directive read in part: “We write to inform you of the picketing action scheduled to take place in the offices of the NERC and Electricity Distribution companies (DisCos) in all states, including the FCT.
“The action will jointly take place on Monday, 13th of May, 2024 nationwide simultaneously. Therefore, the two Labour centres are directed to work together to carry out this important action. While counting on your usual cooperation, kindly accept the assurances of our goodwill and highest regards,” the unions said in the joint statement signed by NLC’s Ag General Secretary Chris Uyot and his TUC counterpart Anka Hassan
At the headquarters of NERC in Abuja Monday morning, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, led other workers and officials to demand an immediate reversal in the hike of electricity tariff.
The labour unions also picketed offices of DISCOs nationwide.
In Kaduna, the workers blocked the main gate of the distribution company stopping staffers from going into the premises.
In Kwara State, the union members blocked the entrance of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company in Ilorin.
Led by the state chairman of the NLC, gate of the company was locked and the staff were prevented from gaining access into their offices as early as eight 8am on Monday morning.
The chairman of the NLC, Saheed Olayinka, said the hike in tariff has been having negative effects on the populace and asked the Federal Government to reverse it.
Similar actions were noticed in others DISCOs across the country.
