Home News Gov El-Rufai Places Reward On ‘Wanted’ NLC President, Others

Gov El-Rufai Places Reward On ‘Wanted’ NLC President, Others

May 18, 2021

NLC Threatens Industrial Action Over Electricity Tariff Hike By Felix ifijeh Organized labour, under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has warned that it would embark on an industrial action if the speculation about an increase in electricity tariff becomes a reality. NLC stated this in a letter titled, “Notice on Speculations on increase in Electricity Tariff,” signed by its president, Ayuba Wabba. The current electricity tariff charged for residential areas in both Abuja and Lagos ranges from N36 to N47.09 per kilowatt. The Federal Government approved the last increase in electricity tariff in January 2021 following complaints by the operators of the distribution companies that low tariff was adversely affecting their business. However, there have been speculations that the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was planning to grant fresh approvals for an increase in tariff by commencing the processes for the Minor Review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO-2020). According to reports, NERC is considering inflationary pressure, foreign exchange, gas prices and available generation capacity as part of the reasons for the proposed tariff hike. However, there have been negotiations between the Federal Government and organized labour on modalities to use in arriving at a tariff mechanism acceptable to both parties. In the letter, NLC dismissed reports of an on-going plan to increase electricity tariff as mere speculation. The letter read, “We wish to draw your attention to the wave of speculation, especially as widely reported in the media, that there are fresh plans to grant approval to Electricity Distribution Companies to hike electricity tariff. “We write to remind the minister that organized labour on September 28, 2020 through the federal government-organized labour committee on Electricity Tariff agreed to freeze further increases in electricity tariff until the committee concludes its work and its report adopted by all the principals in the committee. “It is in light of this that we dismiss the on-going speculation on increase in electricity tariff as mere speculations. We, however, find it prudent to put you on notice that should the government make true the swirling speculation by approving an increase in electricity tariff, organized labour would be left with no option than to deploy the industrial mechanisms granted in our laws for the defense of workers’ rights.” — National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba

BEVERLY HILLS, May 18, (THEWILL) – The Kaduna State Government has declared as “wanted” the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and other workers’ leaders.

They were declared wanted for economic sabotage and attacks on public infrastructure under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai, in a tweet on Tuesday, said: “Ayuba Wabba & others of @NLCHeadquarters declared wanted for economic sabotage & attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act.

“Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to @MOJKaduna. KDSG. There will be a handsome reward!”

In another tweet, he said: “…The reform of the size, cost & quality of over bloated, inefficient & barely educated public service is at stake here. We will neither retreat nor concede to any thoughtless & corrupt political hacks ever!”

The state government had said the five-day warning strike by the NLC, which began on Monday, will not distract it from its plan to “rightsize” the civil service.

But Wabba, who addressed civil servants in the state on Monday, vowed to bring the El-Rufai’s administration to its knees until the sacked workers are recalled.