NLC Shuts Down DisCos Over Tariff Hike

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has shut down the headquarters of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) in Ondo state and Plateau State over electricity tariff hike.

Nigeriancablenewsonline.com gathered that the labour union has blocked the main gates of the companies, leaving the staff stranded outside the buildings.

Security operatives, including the police, Department of State services (DSS) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen around the entrance of the
JEDC.

The NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had announced that they would shut down offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) nationwide as a result of the failure to comply with their demand of total reversal of electricity tariff hike.

Nigerian Cable News online had reported how the commission hiked the electricity tariff from N65/kwh to N225/Kwh for Band A users.

The Federal Government later approved a marginal slash, which labour rejected and demanded full reversal, giving an ultimatum of May 12.

The unions had also asked NERC to stop of what it described as “discriminatory practice” of segregating electricity consumers into “arbitrary” bands.

Giving an update on Sunday night, the head of information at NLC headquarters, Benson Upah, said members of the movement would converge on Labour House, Abuja by by 7am.

“NLC invites you to cover the picketing of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission headquarters in Abuja,” Benson said in the official notification sent to our correspondent last night.

He added that similar arrangement had been made nationwide.