Another Grid Collapse: NLC Slams FG Over Blackout, Rejects N4tn Bailout for Power Firms

Nigeria was plunged into darkness again on Wednesday following yet another collapse of the national electricity grid, sparking outrage from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which blasted the Federal Government for “rewarding failure” in the power sector.

The collapse occurred around 11:20 am, cutting power supply across the country. Data showed that national generation, which peaked at 3,972 megawatts at 10 am, fell sharply to 2,917 MW by 11 am before crashing to just 20.80 MW at noon. By that time, all 21 power plants connected to the grid had dropped to zero output.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed the incident, blaming it on the tripping of a power generation company. The fault, it said, cascaded across the grid, triggering a nationwide blackout. Restoration, however, began around 11:45 am, starting with supply from Shiroro Power Plant to Abuja. As of 6 pm, about 1,505 MW had been restored.

NISO promised a full investigation into both the immediate and remote causes, pledging “remedial and proactive actions” to prevent a repeat. “Every effort is being made to stabilise the system, and we crave the public’s indulgence as restoration progresses,” the operator said.

Distribution companies also confirmed the outage. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company told customers the blackout was due to a “loss of supply from the national grid” and assured them that efforts were underway to restore normalcy.

NLC blasts government

But the labour union was unsparing in its reaction. In a strongly worded statement, the NLC rejected government’s reported plan to inject N4tn ($2.7bn) into privately run electricity companies, describing it as “an act of economic betrayal.”

“The NLC has been made aware of a promised N4tn government payment for these same failed operators. We reject this outright,” the union declared. “To sink another kobo of public money into the pockets of these private entities is an insult to Nigerians.”

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, described the collapse as both predictable and avoidable, pointing to more than a decade of failed policies and politically motivated appointments. “This recurrent catastrophe is not an accident; it is the direct result of a capitalist ruling class that has engineered the power sector to fail, loot, and keep Nigerians in perpetual underdevelopment,” he said.

He cited the controversial appointment of officials with no technical expertise to top regulatory roles as evidence of a system riddled with political patronage. “How else does one explain appointing a former local government chairman with no background in energy economics or engineering to chair NERC?” Ajaero asked.

A history of failures

The latest blackout adds to Nigeria’s long list of grid failures — over 105 collapses in the last decade alone. Under former President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023), the grid failed 93 times. President Bola Tinubu’s administration has also witnessed multiple collapses since mid-2023, with a major incident occurring in February 2025.

For the NLC, this record is proof that the privatisation of the sector in 2013 was a “neoliberal, pro-market charade” that has worsened Nigeria’s energy woes. The union argued that throwing money at private operators has only deepened the crisis while businesses and households remain in darkness.

NLC’s demands

The union urged the government to redirect the N4tn bailout funds into a public-led initiative to expand power generation and transmission infrastructure. It also called for the removal of politically appointed regulators and their replacement with competent technocrats.

“This latest collapse is a stark indictment of the current administration and its predecessors,” the union said. “What Nigeria needs is new capacity, transparent management, and a fundamental rethink of the privatisation model.”

It also demanded a comprehensive public audit of the sector since privatisation, vowing that Nigerian workers would no longer accept “man-made darkness.”

“This is not a plea; it is a declaration of intent. The light must come on, by any means necessary,” Ajaero warned.