Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu
By Akeem Atoyebi
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has rejected the proposed use of N8 billion to sensitise consumers on how to pay electricity bill, saying it’s height of profligacy, wastefulness, corruption.
NLC also attributed the persistent grid collapse to incompetent headships of the Ministry of Power and National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.
The union said that national grid has collapsed under the current Minister more than all the previous ministers in the history of Nigeria combined.
Labour’s position was contained in a statement titled “BEFORE THE POWER SECTOR COLLAPSES: N8 BILLION BUDGET FOR ELECTRICITY BILL SENSITIZATION IS ASHAMEFUL TESTAMENT TO INCOMPETENCE AND WASTEFULNESS”.
NLC called for a comprehensive audit of the entire power sector budget and others to unearth other potential avenues for corruption and financial recklessness.
In the statement by its President, Joe Ajaero, NLC challenged the power minister to tell Nigerians how much dividend it has received from the DISCOs and other privatised entities since the last 12 years of privatisation in lieu of its 40 percent ownership of the privatized entities.
The NLC statement read in parts: “We will continue to monitor developments in this regard and will not hesitate to mobilise against any attempt to use the budget process as a vehicle for waste and corruption.
“Asking for N8 billion to teach us how to pay bills to DISCOs owned by private entities is entirely questionable and speaks to the deeper worries of Nigerians as to the distinction between those in government and those who bought the electricity companies.
“It is laughable to believe that what is important to Nigerians, especially as it concerns the power sector now is to be sensitised on why they should pay more for electricity in the midst of constant grid failure and overwhelming darkness.
“This is annoying and speaks to the depth of crass contempt and disdain with which some individuals occupying the nation’s corridors of power hold the citizens.
“If the leadership of the power sector are compelled to reduce the number of times they spend at the National Assembly, perhaps, they would have more time to focus on their job and reduce the embarrassing situation in the sector.
“Sensitization campaigns should not cost a fraction of this amount, especially in a country where schools are underfunded, hospitals lack basic equipment, and infrastructure is crumbling.
“This allocation is not just wasteful; it is a slap in the face of every hardworking Nigerian struggling to make ends meet.
“Unless the perceived incompetence and wastefulness in the Ministry of Power and the NERC is addressed urgently, the nation’s power sector may collapse completely.
“We urge the President of the federation to take steps to rein in the burgeoning appetites of those in the Power Ministry and NERC, to reinvigorate the sector and save it from total collapse.”
