Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has commended the move by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to picket offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission headquarters (NERC) and offices of the electricity distribution company in Nigeria, News About Nigeria reports.
He stated this while speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
He noted that it is a right move, stating that the protest was a result of the hike in electricity tariffs across the country.
Falana also pointed out that there is provision for picketing under the Labour Act in Nigeria, adding that NERC failed to follow due process and did not engage the stakeholders before taking such an unpopular decision.
He maintained that there has not been regular power supply, adding that if DISCO cannot meet the electricity supply, people have no right to pay the increased tariff.
“There is provision for picketing under the Labour Act in Nigeria and that is what the Labour Centres will begin tomorrow. They are going to picket the headquarters of NERC and the offices of the DISCOs to register their protest against the illegal increase in electricity tariffs.
“This is because the Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission did not follow due process and didn’t conduct a public hearing as required by the Electricity Act 2023. I hope the NERC will engage and discuss with the Labour movement and see what can be done to reverse the hike.
“Again, the increase was anchored on the assumption that there would be regular electricity supply for at least 20 hours. But that has not been the case. If DISCO cannot meet the electricity supply, people have no right to pay the increased tariff,” he stated.
He further noted that there must be evidence that there is an improvement in electricity supply before the tariff can be increased, as stipulated in Section 116 of the Electricity Act 2023.
Recall that organised labour, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, issued NERC a May 12 deadline to reverse the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kwh or risk having its commission and DISCO offices nationwide picketed.
