₦airaland Forum

AHEAD of tomorrow’s planned protest, electricity workers have kicked against the plan to picket the Distribution Companies, DISCOs, and Generation Companies, GENCOs, by leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, alongside civil society allies over the hike in electricity tariff, arguing that the action is misdirected.

Speaking on the platform of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, the workers said while they opposed the hike and support action against it, such action should be targeted at the Federal Government and its agencies such as the Ministry of Power and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

The union, in a statement by its General Secretary, Mr. Joe Ajaero, recalled that when NUEE was fighting the privatization of the assets of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, many Nigerians misunderstood the electricity workers and were mischievously accused of trying to protect inefficiency and some other self-seeking allegations, despite their efforts at educating Nigerians on the impending evil.

“We believe that, as a responsible trade union whose members work in the Power Sector; and thus, are also affected by this mindless increase, we must state that the DISCOs and GENCOs are not the sole beneficiaries of that decision. If any organisation should bear the brunt of our attacks, it must be the Federal Government and its ministries and agencies within the sector, especially NERC and the Federal Ministry of Power. We believe that it is our civic responsibility and duty to educate those championing the picketing exercise to be properly directed on the targets of their picketing effort. Let it be clear that NUEE supports every effort to resist the increase in electricity tariff and other anti-people policies of the government but we will advise our compatriots to be target specific so that we may not be accused of fighting the wrong parties in this case. Few days ago, the Minister also counselled the National Assembly members that they cannot force the power companies not to increase tariff because these companies do not have the power to do so,” the NECC said.

In the meantime, industry experts, at the weekend, expressed concern that the call by the organized labour to shut down the DISCOs and GENCOs would impact negatively on the power sector and the nation’s economy.

According to the experts , the planned disruption of the operations may have more severe consequences than the new tariff, aimed at ensuring cost recovery in the power sector value chain, removal of the fixed charge , encouraging power conservation by focusing on metering before billing and insisting that consumers are billed for only what they consume.

Some of the experts argued that any disruption at this time would negatively affect the steady progress being made in the sector in spite of challenges posed by gas pipeline vandalism and other acts of sabotage recorded in the petroleum and power sector.

Legal practitioners, who spoke with our correspondents, expressed the view that the subject of change in tariff was not a matter for labour agitation. According to them, the statutory objective of a trade union recognised under the Trade Unions Act is to regulate the terms and conditions of employment of workers. ‘’Price determination is a product of market forces. Electricity is like any other product and its price reflects its cost of production’’, one of the lawyers said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/hike-in-electricity-tariff-workers-reject-planned-picketing-of-discos-gencos/

Nigeria!!!!!!!

When power supply is below average tufiakwa nothing is working in the zoo.
The land of the rising sun

Does this government want to eliminate middle class and the poor? Removal of subsidy in kerosine, banning of importation of small generators, imposing #50 stamp duty tax on bank transaction, 45% increment in electricity tarriff and so on....

NLC is now a toothless bulldog. Nothing will happen. The govt might reduce the tarriff increment from 40% to 35%. But the increment will remain.

obasiken:
NLC is now a toothless bulldog. Nothing will happen. The govt might reduce the tarriff increment from 40% to 35%. But the increment will remain.

The zoo is falling

Confusing isn't it?

Very confusing. Electricity is just one overhead item in a list of other items constituting general overhead costs. Electricity therefore is not a product. It's a service to a Product of which its major costs constitute material, labor, direct and indirect overheads of which electricity is just a fraction. So the cost of electricity should never be allowed to overwhelm any real cost of any product. Price determination is a service, not a product to market forces and electricity is service too. The electricity workers should consider their remuneration first, reason with CBN to stepdown the cost of their imported materials and improve local content before colluding with their employers to Jack up the distribution price of electricity. So no price increase in electricity and no picketing on the 8th, tomorrow.

Does the NLC still exist?? To me, they aren't any different from NANS. I wonder if their leaders have heard about BREKETE FAMILY TV. Just leant about it myself about two weeks ago, watched it at my sister's and the first thing that came to my mind was- if I were a president, I'd employ someone who's exclusive job would be watching the programs on that channel and giving me feedback!

A lot of nasty stuffs are going on out the, I mean, horrible things the Nigerian workers go through in the hands of their employees. From most accounts given by victims who came to their studio to narrate their ordeals, the NLC simply take their complaints and NEVER take any actions against offenders. Just a shame.

Nobody wants sand in his garri, NLC should listen to NUEE.

Personally though, this hike is a bitter pill to swallow but if it brings about 24 hours light so be it.

Those who enjoy light for upwards of 18 hours a day should pay while those in Aluu that see light like 3 hours a day every 3 days should join NLC in protesting.

As usual lousy Nigerian masses blinded by nlc emotional propaganda at it again. This is how the ediats went to occupy ojota in 2012 n look at how behind we r till today. Well its not favorable but all subsidies hve to go. How are the companies (private) supposed to run if theyre non profit.we need efficiency . stop finking with emotions, THINK RATIONALLY....GOD how did I end up with these ppl sef.

revolt:
As usual lousy Nigerian masses blinded by nlc emotional propaganda at it again. This is how the ediats went to occupy ojota in 2012 n look at how behind we r till today. Well its not favorable but all subsidies hve to go. How are the companies (private) supposed to run if theyre non profit.we need efficiency . stop finking with emotions, THINK RATIONALLY....GOD how did I end up with these ppl sef.

lols please take it easy bro.
happy sunday

Kingsolex1:
lols please take it easy bro.
happy sunday

the whole matter jes tire me. Every progressive move is NVR supported. And they drag the rest of we few progressives down the hole wth them

revolt:
the whole matter jes tire me. Every progressive move is NVR supported. And they drag the rest of we few progressives down the hole wth them

Its a terrible thing, despite the GSM effect, people do not want subsidy removed or power deregulated.

otokx:
Its a terrible thing, despite the GSM effect, people do not want subsidy removed or power deregulated.

Nigeria still have a long way to go.

I think that the NLC needs a "think tank " to help it analyse the situation properly and then probably dialogue with the government on the effects of the price hike before deciding to picket the gencos and discos.
Tough as it sounds, it might be the panacea to incessant power cuts. I think it's still going to be cheaper and more convenient in the long run than the cost of fuelling our generators for power supply.
.my 2 kobo.