NLC rejects N6trn bailout, demands energy sector reform

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Joe Ajaero, NLC president

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the proposed N6 trillion bailout for power generation companies, saying repeated financial interventions have not improved electricity supply nationwide.

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The NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, who said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, called for urgent structural reforms in the energy sector.

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“The proposed N6 trillion bailout is a mere symptom of deeper structural failures in the power sector, and repeated financial interventions have not translated into improved electricity supply for Nigerians.

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“We cannot continue to deploy public funds to sustain a fundamentally flawed system, while ordinary citizens bear the burden of inefficiency through high tariffs and persistent outages,” he added.

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Ajaero urged the Federal Government to merge the Ministries of Petroleum and Power into a unified Ministry of Energy to improve coordination.

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He said the current sectoral separation had led to inefficiencies, particularly in gas supply for thermal power generation.

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According to him, an integrated energy framework will prioritise domestic electricity needs and enhance national development.

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The NLC president also called for a halt to the proposed bailout, insisting public funds should not support what it described as failed private investments.

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“Electricity must be treated as a social service and a fundamental right, not a profit-driven commodity, if Nigeria is to achieve affordable and reliable power supply.

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“The current framework places undue burden on citizens, and reform must prioritise service delivery, public interest and the overall welfare of Nigerian workers,” he added.

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He noted that electricity should be treated as a social service, not a profit-driven commodity, to ensure an affordable and reliable power supply.

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He urged the government to convene a stakeholders’ summit to develop a people-centred roadmap for the power sector.

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Ajaero said there was a need for policies that promote public interest, energy security, and improved welfare for Nigerian workers and citizens.

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