The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) criticized what it termed an “outrageous statement” made by the Honourable Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who claimed that 150 million Nigerians now have access to “adequate electricity” with a supply of 5,500MW.
Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, expressed that this “wild assertion” is not only misleading but also a poor joke to a population that faces daily struggles with persistent power outages, exorbitant electricity tariffs, and a power sector that prioritizes private profit over national development.
“Perhaps the Minister is attempting to replicate Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish,” Ajaero remarked.
The NLC emphasized that the Minister’s claim is an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians, especially in light of the ongoing power challenges the country endures.
Claiming that over 150 million Nigerians have access to reliable electricity in a country that struggles to produce a mere and inconsistent 5,000 megawatts—well below the global standard of 1,000 megawatts per million people—disrespects the intelligence and lived experiences of Nigerians.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) emphasized that Nigeria should be generating at least 150,000 megawatts to support such a statement. They pointed out that “even on its best day, the country’s electricity generation has never surpassed 5,500 megawatts, and that figure remains unstable and unreliable.”
They raised several questions: Is Nigeria’s standard different from the global standard? Where are the power plants capable of delivering this level of supply? Where is the upgraded transmission infrastructure to support such output? Why are our homes still in darkness and our factories shutting down every day?
The NLC advised the Power Minister on the standards for measuring performance, stating that the Minister’s assertion “could be seen as a joke taken too far.”
Millions of Nigerians, from urban slums to rural areas, still lack access to electricity. Those who do have access face the constant risk of disconnection, frequent blackouts, and financial exploitation due to a complicated system of inflated tariffs and arbitrary billing.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) attributes the ongoing electricity crisis to what it calls a significant betrayal stemming from the 2013 privatization of the power sector.
The labor union criticized the federal government for transferring the nation’s essential infrastructure to allies for a mere N400 billion, stating, “More than a decade later, there has been no improvement in service delivery. Yet, these same Generation Companies (GenCos) and Distribution Companies (DISCOs), which have severely let the nation down, are set to receive over N4 trillion in public subsidies without any accountability.”
