Civil Society Groups and activists have mobilised for the nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress over the recent 45 per cent increment of electricity tariff by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The protests are to hold across the country on Monday.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, said in a statement on Thursday that the labour movement had commenced mobilisation of Nigerians for a nationwide protest.
He said the planned protest, which will involve the NLC, the TUC and electricity consumers, would hold simultaneously in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Some of the groups, who spoke to newsmen on Saturday, also said they had informed their members across the country to participate in the exercise.
The Executive Secretary, Civil Liberties Organisation, Mr. Ibuchukwu Ezike, told one of our correspondents, that the new tariff was criminal, anti-people and a violation of a court order.
He said, “We have directed all our members to join the state councils of the NLC and the TUC.
“It will interest you to know that a court order restrained government from increasing tariff. Is this not a violation of the rule of law?”
He added, “They have increased the pump price of kerosene from N50 to N83 – N13 increase. If we allow all these, they will continue to increase and increase, and what they are increasing will not benefit the power masses but the rich.
Similarly, the Secretary, Joint Action Front, Mr. Abiodun Aremu, said, “JAF is involved and we are encouraging our members to participate nationwide.”
He said his group was demanding the reversal of the privatisation of the power sector. He also estimated billing must be stopped while power firms must meter all consumers.
The Gani Fawehinmi-founded National Conscience Party has also expressed its readiness to join the action on Monday. The party noted that it had earlier held protests in some states ahead of the increment.
The National Secretary of the NCP, Mr. Ayodele Akele, said, “Our members across the country are not immune to the hardship; they are feeling the pains. We cannot encourage the government by paying more for darkness. All members of the NCP across the country should join this protest because this is an issue that affects them. This is our project and we cannot run away from it.”
The Convener of Campaign for Democracy, Mrs. Joe Okei-Odumakin, in a text message, said, “We support any move to make living better for the people. We call on the government to listen to the voice of the people as their declining purchasing power cannot support arbitrary increase in the tariff of non-existing power.”
The minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, had said he would hols ameeting with leaders of the NLC and top executives of Electricity Distribution Companies this week to avert the planned picketing of the Discos by members of the NLC.
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