The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the federal government’s plan to spend ₦8 billion on a campaign to encourage Nigerians to pay electricity bills.
The allocation, part of the 2025 federal budget, has been labeled “absurd” by NLC President Joe Ajaero, who accused the Ministry of Power of misplaced priorities amid ongoing challenges in the sector.
“The power sector is on the brink of collapse due to incompetence and corruption,” Ajaero said in a statement on Tuesday. He called for reforms to reinvigorate the sector, adding, “Rather than spending ₦8 billion on a sensitization campaign, efforts should focus on resolving grid failures and addressing the ₦200 billion owed to contractors by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.”
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, defended the allocation during his budget presentation, saying the campaign aims to address power theft, poor payment habits, and infrastructure protection.
Adelabu stated the initiative would use social, digital, and print media to reach Nigeria’s population of over 200 million.
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However, Ajaero questioned the government’s priorities, pointing to the frequent collapse of the national grid, which he claimed has occurred more times under current leadership than all previous administrations combined. “Nigerians deserve better than the incompetence that has plagued this sector,” he added.
The NLC also criticized the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), accusing it of failing to ensure transparency and efficiency in the sector. “NERC has consistently failed to discharge its responsibilities to consumers, allowing unethical practices to flourish unchecked,” Ajaero said.
He warned that continued mismanagement of the power sector would erode public trust and worsen Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges. “We will not stand idly by while public funds are wasted. Nigerians expect seriousness and accountability from their leaders,” the statement read.
