The Nigeria Labour Congress has expressed concern over the inadequate power supply in the country, citing its negative impact on both business operations and national development.
According to the labour union, despite the privatization of the sector by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan twelve years ago, there has been no significant improvement in power supply.
Speaking at the 13th quadrennial national delegates conference of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, highlighted that while tariffs continue to rise, the reliability of power supply has declined.
Ajaero called for a policy overhaul to address the challenges facing the power sector.
Ajaero said, “I was one of the persons who 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.
“Each time we hear of billions in the power sector, it is not making any impact. Even after privatisation, the power sector has been subsidised with over N2trn. We need policies in the power sector because that is the driver of industrialisation and development. This is very important.
“In Nigeria today, there are many power plants that do not serve their purpose. This has affected us. That is why we need a new policy in the power sector that will assist everybody.”
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The NLC president also lamented the rising inflation in the country.
Ajaero said with the current inflation of 31. 70 per cent, even if the national minimum wage was increased to N1m, it would not be enough for workers.
He added, “No matter the minimum wage we pay in this country today, if the issue of the devaluation of the currency continues, even if you pay N1m, it will lose its value the following day. If we don’t check inflation, if you don’t check the exchange rate, if you pay workers N1m today, we won’t be able to buy much.
“We need to look at all variables in the determination of the new minimum wage. No matter what you pay workers today, the value will go down in the next year.”
