Ajaero Slams Power Reform, Says Nigerians Are Paying for Darkness
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has launched a scathing attack on the nation’s power sector reforms, declaring that the privatization of the industry has failed spectacularly and plunged Nigerians into deeper energy poverty.
Speaking at the annual conference of women and youth of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in Abuja on Monday, Ajaero described the post-privatization era as a “grand deception” characterized by frequent grid collapses, stagnant generation, and exploitative tariffs.
He argued that instead of the promised efficiency, consumers are being forced to pay exorbitant rates for services they do not receive.
Ajaero pointed out that more than a decade after the sector was handed over to private investors, electricity generation has remained stuck between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts; the same level recorded before the reforms. He cited this stagnation as clear evidence of systemic failure.
“Instead of progress, we witness regression. Instead of light, we have darkness. The national grid collapses with the frequency of a faulty generator, sometimes plunging the entire nation into blackout,” Ajaero stated.
The NLC President argued that public assets were sold to investors who lacked both the technical capacity and the financial muscle to manage them.
He alleged that these core investors relied heavily on loans from Nigerian banks rather than injecting fresh foreign capital, a move he claimed has weakened domestic credit and put pressure on the naira.
“They acquired the DISCOs and GENCOs on a shoestring budget and now expect Nigerian workers to pay for their loans through outrageous electricity tariffs,” he added.
Ajaero also criticized the electricity band classification system, which segments consumers based on hours of supply.
He described the policy as discriminatory, noting that even those in the premium “Band A” category still suffer from epileptic supply despite paying significantly higher rates.
“This government is asking Nigerians to pay for darkness. We reject this segregation. Electricity is a right, not a commodity to be auctioned to the highest bidder while the poor are left in the dark,” he declared.
Furthermore, the labor leader raised eyebrows regarding reports that the federal government plans to pay between N2 trillion and N3 trillion to power generation companies (GenCos).
He dismissed the subsidy claims as a “ruse,” questioning the rationale behind such massive payouts to private entities that have failed to deliver.
“We describe it as a clandestine move to ‘settle the boys’ as the 2027 elections approach,” Ajaero alleged.
The NLC is now demanding a comprehensive review of the sector and a national stakeholders’ summit involving workers and experts to develop a “people-centred power roadmap” that prioritizes affordable and stable electricity over profit-driven models.
