By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has condemned the arbitrary increase in electricity tariff by the Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission, NERC, from 68per.kilowat to 225per kilowatt
Comrade Gabriel Amari stated this while picketing the office of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, in Lokoja.
Comrade Amari said the policy of the Federal Government in the electricity sector is anti- people, inflicting untold hardship and pains on the Nigerian masses.
He said the action of picketing NERC offices and it’s subsidiaries is a nationwide directive by the National Office of the Organised Labour in order for government to reverse the Commission’s decision.
According to him, the action will continue until the needful is done by the Federal Government to make life more meaningful and bearable for the people.
Also in a remark, the State NLC Vice Chairman Comrade Eleojo Opaluwa called on Kogi State Government to set up it’s electricity company making use of the advantage of the ,2023 new electricity act to generate power for its people in view of the abundant resources of coal in Okaba, Ankpa LGA and across the State.
Placards carried by members reads: “Privatisation of the electricity sector is a failure”, “Increase in electricity tariff is a broad day robbery”, We resist every form of exploitation “, “We say no to discrimination in electricity distribution”, among other inscriptions and demands.
Some members of the public who spoke on the picketing applauded the Organised Labour for coming to the aid of the masses to fight government insensitive policies to the masses who are the receiving end.