Electricity workers threaten strike over recent tariff hike
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has called for the immediate reversal of the recent increase in electricity tariffs, threatening strong action if their demands are not met.
In a statement signed by National President Adebiyi Adeyeye, NUEE condemned the decision by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to raise tariffs for customers enjoying extended power supply (Band A classification). The new hike sees prices jump from N66 per kilowatt hour (kWh) to N225 kWh.
Adeyeye argued the increase unfairly burdens Nigerians who rely heavily on electricity, particularly low-income households. He emphasized the widening inequality this price shift creates, stating, “This decision blatantly disregards the economic struggles of Nigerian workers, especially considering the uncertain minimum wage situation.”
The NUEE President challenged the notion that electricity subsidies are inherently negative. “Subsidies are not alien even in advanced economies,” Adeyeye said, citing Germany’s support for renewable energy and the US’s low-income household assistance programs.
