The Nigeria Labour Congress,has cautioned the Federal Government against further increment in electricity tariff in the country.
Joe Ajaero, NLC President and Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of NLC conveyed this on Sunday, in a communique they jointly signed at the end of the meeting of the National Executive Council was held in Yola, Adamawa State.
Ajaero said their NEC rejected the ongoing reclassification of electricity consumers in the country.
According to him, the systematic exploitation, sanctioned by the Ministry of Power, is nothing short of economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace.
He explained that it is evident that the ruling elite, acting as enforcers of global monopoly capital, are determined to further deepen the misery of the Nigerian people through incessant tariff hikes, increased taxation, and relentless economic strangulation.
He lamented that whereas inflation has soared, wages remain stagnant, and the cost of living has become unbearable, the ruling class continues to transfer the burden of their fiscal irresponsibility onto the already impoverished working masses.
“NEC-in-session warns that any attempt to announce further electricity tariff increases will be met with mass resistance. Consequently, the Congress resolves to immediately mobilize for a nationwide protest should the Ministry of Power proceed with exploitative plan to further hike electricity tariffs under any guise.
“The NLC shall not stand idly by while the Nigerian people are subjected to the unholy machinations of capitalist profiteers and their state collaborators,” the joint communique by Ajaero and Ugboaja stated.
Speaking on the crisis rocking the Labour Party, the NLC NEC resolved to among other reforms, rebrand the party or go for a merger and possibly forming a coalitions to defend the interests of NLC and Nigerian workers in the Party with a view to reclaiming the Party and returning it to its original ideological roots.
Labour said, “After carefully examining the unfortunate events in the Labour Party, which was a creation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the opaqueness that pervades its activities, NEC-in-session directed the National Administrative Council (NAC) to take immediate steps which may include; rebranding, merger or forming of Coalitions to defend the interests of NLC and Nigerian workers in the Party with a view to reclaiming the Party and returning it to its original ideological roots.
“The Congress will not allow the Labour Party to be hijacked by reactionary forces who do not represent the aspirations of the working people and broader Nigerian People.
“The NLC remains committed to ensuring that the Party remains a true vehicle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers and the oppressed masses”.
Commenting on the 35% tariff hike in telecommunications services, Ajaero said NEC acknowledges the agreement reached on February 21, 2025, between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the federal government through the Joint 10-Man Committee, which reduced the initially proposed telecommunications tariff hike from 50% to 35%.
He noted that the Congress remains vigilant, recognizing the long history of infidelity.
He warned that should the implementation of the agreement on March 1, 2025 not be as agreed, the National Administrative Council (NAC) is mandated to immediately deploy all necessary instruments to enforce compliance in line with the February 10th, 2025 Central Working Committee (CWC) directive.
The communique added:”NEC reaffirms the historical responsibility of the working class to resist all forms of exploitation and oppression. It calls on all affiliates, industrial unions, and progressive allies to remain on high alert and fully prepared to engage in decisive mass action against all anti-people policies of the state.
“The Congress reiterates that no society can sustainably develop under a regime of corporate plunder and neoliberal enslavement. The Nigerian working people must, therefore, remain resolute, organized, and uncompromising in the collective struggle for a fair and equitable Nigeria where the dominance of fat cats at the expense of the masses will be greatly reduced to create a socioeconomic balance”
