By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the N8 billion earmarked in the 2025 federal budget to educate Nigerians on the importance of paying electricity bills, describing it as “absurd.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC expressed concern over the allocation, citing widespread corruption and mismanagement in the power sector.
The Federal Ministry of Power had proposed the N8 billion budget during a presentation by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, at the National Assembly on Monday. The funds, according to the minister, are intended to combat power theft, improve payment habits, and safeguard national power assets through a nationwide sensitization campaign across various media platforms.
Adelabu emphasized the need for a reorientation on electricity billing, stating that many Nigerians still perceive electricity as a free resource. He argued that understanding the sector’s challenges and responsibilities would help ensure a stable power supply.
However, Ajaero dismissed the initiative as a misplaced priority, pointing to the sector’s inability to address longstanding issues despite significant investments. He described the N8 billion proposal as a distraction from the urgent need to stabilize the national power grid, which has suffered frequent collapses under the current leadership.
“A Sector on the Brink”
“The power sector in Nigeria is at the brink of collapse, with helmsmen demonstrating gross incompetence. While the minister seeks N8 billion to teach Nigerians how to pay electricity bills, contractors at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are owed over N200 billion,” Ajaero stated.
He accused the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of failing to fulfill its regulatory duties and of complicity in unethical practices within the sector. “NERC has shown a shocking incapacity to regulate the sector, choosing instead to shield malpractice and punish whistleblowers,” the statement alleged.
Ajaero also criticized the frequent grid collapses, which he claimed have become more frequent than under all previous administrations combined. “Rather than providing solutions, the leadership continues to normalize grid collapses as if they are an acceptable norm. This is a clear admission of failure, and they should resign,” he added.
NLC’s Call to Action
The NLC reiterated its demand for competent leadership in the Ministry of Power and NERC, warning that continued mismanagement would exacerbate the country’s economic and social challenges.
“Our position is clear: we will not stand idly by while public funds are squandered under the guise of governance. This wasteful allocation is a stark reminder of why Nigeria remains stagnant and why incompetence thrives unchecked,” the NLC declared.
The union urged the government to redirect funds toward resolving critical issues in the power sector and warned that it would mobilize against any misuse of public resources.
“We will continue to monitor developments and will not hesitate to act if necessary. The government must prioritize efficient management of the power sector to restore public confidence and alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians,” the statement concluded.
