The Nigerian Labour Congress has condemned the Federal Government’s proposed allocation of N8bn for electricity bill sensitisation, describing it as an unnecessary and insensitive expenditure.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, defended the N8bn allocation during the 2025 budget presentation to the National Assembly which sparked criticism amid grid failures and economic woes.
Speaking on the issue on Tuesday in a statement, the Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, expressed disappointment at the priorities of the Ministry of Power, highlighting that contractors in the Transmission Company of Nigeria are owed over N200bn while critical infrastructure in the sector remains neglected.
“Proposing N8bn to sensitize Nigerians already struggling with exorbitant electricity tariffs is a slap in the face of hardworking citizens,” Ajaero said.
“This reeks of arrogance and insensitivity, especially when millions are grappling with poverty and runaway inflation.”
The labour leader also pointed to the glaring contradiction in allocating funds to educate Nigerians on paying bills to private electricity companies while grid failures persist and service delivery worsens.
“Instead of ensuring steady electricity, they want to teach us how to pay for darkness. Governance should be about reducing hardship, not compounding it,” Ajaero added.
The Electricity Act of 2023 granted the National Electricity Regulatory Commission significant powers to regulate the sector, yet the commission has faced accusations of inefficiency and collusion with unethical practices. Ajaero highlighted a recent incident where a DISCO managing director was allegedly sacked for whistleblowing, with NERC failing to intervene.
“We have a regulator that punishes whistleblowing rather than protecting transparency,” he noted, calling for a comprehensive audit of the power sector’s finances and budget.
Public outrage has also centred on the perception of misplaced priorities within the sector. Critics argue that the Ministry of Power should prioritize resolving grid collapses and expanding electricity access rather than frivolous spending. The national grid has reportedly collapsed more times under the current administration than in previous leadership eras combined.
The N8bn allocation has fueled suspicions of corruption and financial recklessness, with labour leaders urging the National Assembly to reject the proposal and hold power sector managers accountable. They also called for an audit to uncover potential avenues for mismanagement and misuse of public funds.
“Sensitisation campaigns should not cost a fraction of this amount, especially when schools are underfunded, hospitals lack basic equipment, and infrastructure is in disrepair,” Ajaero emphasised.
He further mentioned that the proposed spending has become emblematic of broader concerns about governance in Nigeria, with many Nigerians questioning the commitment of officials to addressing critical challenges.
“As the nation awaits the National Assembly’s decision, citizens and advocacy groups are closely monitoring developments and preparing to push back against perceived misgovernance,” Ajaero added