NLC Expresses Concern Over Deteriorating State of Power Sector.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has sounded the alarm over the persistent poor state of power supply in the country, expressing significant concerns for businesses and national development. Despite twelve years of privatization initiated during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the NLC lamented that power supply has not witnessed significant improvements.
Speaking at the 13th quadrennial national delegates conference of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) in Abuja, NLC President Joe Ajaero highlighted the deteriorating situation in the power sector. He criticized the simultaneous increase in tariffs alongside a decline in power supply, emphasizing the urgent need for policy reforms to address the challenges facing the sector.
Ajaero remarked, “I was one of the persons that said privatization was not the solution to the power crisis in the country. Twelve years later, we are worse off. While tariffs are on the increase, power supply is nosediving. We need some intervention in the sector because no sector can survive in this present situation.”
The NLC president underscored the critical role of the power sector in driving industrialization and national development, urging the government to implement new policies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. He also raised concerns about rising inflation rates, noting that even substantial increases in the national minimum wage would be insufficient if not accompanied by measures to stabilize inflation and currency devaluation.
Furthermore, Ajaero addressed the challenges facing the textile industry, emphasizing its importance in national economic growth. Despite government pronouncements to revive the sector, the NLC president noted that the industry’s fortunes had not significantly improved, highlighting the need for concrete actions to support its revitalization.
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The recent signing of the Electricity Act by President Tinubu has sparked speculation about potential changes in the power sector, including the reversal of privatization. However, the specifics of any such plans remain unclear, leaving stakeholders and the public uncertain about the future of the power sector and the prospects for resolving its longstanding issues.
As power interruptions persist and affect industries and households across the country, questions remain about the sector’s ability to effectively address these challenges and restore reliable power supply to support economic growth and development.
