Key stakeholders in the power sector have expressed that the current power generation, fluctuating between 4,000 megawatts and 5,800 megawatts, which leads to frequent power outages, has become a significant embarrassment for the nation.
A coalition consisting of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), along with two civil society organizations—the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) and the Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF)—has condemned the dire electricity situation in the country. They are calling on the Nigerian Senate to urgently hold a Public Hearing to assess the sector’s performance since 2013.
In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Dr. Godswill Akpabio, dated January 27, 2025, the groups stated that the privatization of the electricity sector has failed to meet the needs of Nigeria’s over 230 million citizens. The letter was co-signed by Comrades Adedeye Adebiyi and Dominic Igwebike from NUEE.
The stance of the groups comes a month after they hosted a one-day symposium in December 2024 in Lagos, focusing on the Socio-Economic and Political Implications of the Privatization of Public Assets and the Path Forward. During this event, they examined the Senate Committee on Power’s report, which investigated the frequent collapses of the national grid and related issues, ultimately concluding that the sector is in disarray.
In a letter shared by Mr. Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of RDI, the groups expressed that the recent increase in electricity tariffs and the division of Nigerians into different electricity bands—determining who receives electricity preferentially—have fostered an unnecessary class system within society. Consequently, many Nigerians are compelled to rely on electric generators, incurring significant financial, environmental, and health burdens.
They called on the Senate to promptly organize a Public Hearing, inviting Nigerians to share their experiences over the past 12 years.
Another important demand is to stop the initiatives proposed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the privatization of Nigeria’s public assets through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) or any model that prioritizes profits over service delivery and human rights.
Instead, they advocate for the implementation of the Public-Public Partnership model, which has demonstrated success, in contrast to privatization, which has proven inefficient and has become a means to exploit the nation. They also call for ongoing investment in human capital development within the public sector to enhance efficiency and transparency in operations.
Additionally, they seek an end to practices that unjustly target workers during efforts to strengthen government institutions, and they emphasize the need for regular training and performance-based evaluations for employees.
