The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to withdraw their services in response to the recent increase in electricity tariffs.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission raised the electricity tariff for customers who receive at least 20 hours of power supply daily, with customers under the Band A classification seeing their tariff increase to N225/KWh, from N66/KWh.
The NUEE warned the government to reverse the tariff hike, emphasizing that if the government did not tackle the high cost of electricity, they would take decisive action, such as promptly withdrawing their members who would be used by DisCos to enforce the tariff hike, to protect the livelihood of such members. The union leader explained that they do not have the capacity to provide 20 hours of electricity with the current infrastructure, making it infeasible.
While the union has not given any ultimatum on a strike, they are advising the government to act promptly. They further revealed that the increase would worsen the attacks on their members. Even though the union told its members not to collect that tariff from unmetered customers, more than 70% of Band A customers are still without meters.
The government is promising things they don't have, and the union, who work there, know they lack the transformers to distribute such a load. 20 hours of electricity is not possible except for those on eligible lines. The union leader emphasized that they were not carried along before the tariff hike. Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has urged the union not to withdraw its members. The Federal Government has also urged members of the NUEE not to go on strike, and is calling for dialogue to resolve the issue.
