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Unions Commence Picketing of DisCos Offices Over Electricity Tariff Surge

Written by Jerry Alomatu on May 13, 2024

News Views: 219

The organized labor has commenced picketing at the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and distribution companies (DisCos) across the nation in protest against the recent electricity tariff hike.

The directive for this action came from the leadership of both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the weekend. In a joint statement by NLC’s Acting General Secretary, Chris Uyot, and his TUC counterpart, Anka Hassan, members were instructed to picket these offices nationwide on Monday, May 13, 2024.

As early as 7 AM on Monday, labor union members barricaded the main gate of a distribution company in Kaduna amidst tight security. Staff were unable to access the premises as the protesting union members demanded the reversal of the tariff hike.

Similarly, in Kwara State, union members obstructed the entrance of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company in the state capital, Ilorin. Led by the state chairman of the NLC, they locked the gates, preventing staff from entering their offices as early as 8 AM on Monday morning.

Saheed Olayinka, the NLC chairman, emphasized the adverse effects of the tariff hike on the populace and urged the Federal Government to reverse it. He stated that the picketing would continue until their demands for reversal are met.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions and singing solidarity songs, union members stationed themselves around the premises, while DisCo workers awaited further directives.