NLC slams power privatisation as ‘grand deception’, demands sector reversal
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has slammed the privatisation of Nigeria’s power sector as a “grand deception” and demanded an immediate reversal of the model, firmly rejecting what he described as a proposed trillion-Naira bailout for generation companies.
Speaking at the National Union of Electricity Employees’ Annual Conference of Women and Youth in Abuja, Ajaero issued a strong warning over what he called the continued collapse of the electricity system and deepening energy poverty across the country.
“We once again sound the alarm on the deplorable state of the nation’s electricity sector. We declare that the failed privatisation experiment has plunged Nigerian workers, women, youth, and industries into deeper energy poverty as the national grid continues to collapse while DISCOs persistently reject Loads from the Transmission Company.” Ajaero said
He lamented that more than a decade after privatisation, electricity generation remains between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts, which he said is no different from the pre-privatisation era and reflects stagnation rather than progress.
“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. This is not the ‘turnaround’ we were promised; this is a well-orchestrated robbery of the Nigerian people,” Ajaero stated.
The labour leader maintained that the power sector privatisation was a “Grand Deception,” describing it as a transfer of public wealth into the hands of investors who lacked both technical and financial capacity to manage the assets.
“The so-called investors did not buy these companies with their own money. No foreign exchange was brought in though the companies were touted to have come from outside our shores. They borrowed heavily from Nigerian banks, draining domestic credit and contributing to the depreciation of our 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 said.
Ajaero also faulted the current band classification system, arguing that it has worsened the burden on citizens without delivering improved service. He described the policy as institutionalised exploitation.
“Band A consumers pay through their noses but still receive epileptic power supply. 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.
On the reported plan to pay between two and three trillion Naira to generation companies, Ajaero dismissed the move as unjustifiable and politically motivated ahead of the 2027 elections. “We describe it as a clandestine move to ‘settle the boys’ as the 2027 elections approach.”
He added, “We insist that there is no justification for such a massive bailout to private firms that have failed to deliver. If this government is serious about the welfare of Nigerians, it must stop using our commonwealth to enrich a cartel of failed investors. Every kobo of the treasury belongs to the workers and people of Nigeria.”
Calling for a return of the sector to public control, Ajaero said, “Electricity is not a luxury for the rich; it is a social service essential for national development. It is only the State that can bear the huge capital investment required and the long gestation period for returns. The private sector has failed. It is time to take back the power for the people.”
He further demanded a National Stakeholders’ Summit to develop what he described as a People’s Power Roadmap, stressing that “The Nigerian people cannot continue to pay for darkness. When Power is not available, it cannot be affordable. Power sector must be returned to the people.”
