The Nigerian Labour Congress has criticized the Federal Government’s proposed N8bn allocation for electricity bill sensitization, calling it an unnecessary and insensitive expenditure.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, defended the allocation during the 2025 budget presentation to the National Assembly, which faced backlash amid ongoing grid failures and economic challenges.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, expressed disappointment with the Ministry of Power’s priorities, noting that contractors in the Transmission Company of Nigeria are owed over N200bn, while critical infrastructure in the sector continues to be neglected.
“Proposing N8bn to sensitize Nigerians already struggling with exorbitant electricity tariffs is a slap in the face of hardworking citizens,” Ajaero said.
“This reeks of arrogance and insensitivity, especially when millions are grappling with poverty and runaway inflation.”
The labour leader also highlighted the clear contradiction in allocating funds to educate Nigerians on paying bills to private electricity companies while grid failures continue and service delivery deteriorates.
“Instead of ensuring steady electricity, they want to teach us how to pay for darkness. Governance should be about reducing hardship, not compounding it,” Ajaero noted.
The Electricity Act of 2023 granted the National Electricity Regulatory Commission significant powers to regulate the sector, but the commission has faced accusations of inefficiency and collusion with unethical practices.
Ajaero pointed out a recent incident where a DISCO managing director was allegedly dismissed for whistleblowing, yet NERC failed to intervene.
“We have a regulator that punishes whistleblowing rather than protecting transparency,” he added, calling for a comprehensive audit of the power sector’s finances and budget.
Public outrage has focused on the perceived misplaced priorities within the sector. Critics argue that the Ministry of Power should prioritize addressing grid collapses and expanding electricity access instead of frivolous spending. The national grid has reportedly collapsed more times under the current administration than in all previous leadership eras combined.
The N8bn allocation has raised suspicions of corruption and financial mismanagement, with labour leaders urging the National Assembly to reject the proposal and hold power sector officials accountable.
They also called for an audit to identify potential areas of mismanagement and misuse of public funds.
“Sensitisation campaigns should not cost a fraction of this amount, especially when schools are underfunded, hospitals lack basic equipment, and infrastructure is in disrepair,” Ajaero pointed out.
