By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi
The Chairman of Kebbi State Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Murtala Usman, says, the increase in electricity tariff by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, is not only unwarranted but also capable of destroying the economic prosperity of the nation.
He disclosed this when leadership of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC among others picketted the offices of the Kaduna Electric Distribution Company, KAEDCO, and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC in Birnin Kebbi, this Monday.
“The increase in electricity tariff has negative dimensions multiple times. Manufacturers will increase prices of goods, transport fares will skyrocket, welders and other end users of electricity will be thrown out of business while many Nigerians will languish in darkness because of inability to pay the increase “, he warned.
He made it clear that,” there is no nation in the world which does not subside electricity and petrol, But Nigeria is an oil producing country and is not an importer of electricity, we generate power domestically, GOD Has endowed us with these resources in abundance, these are the rights of the citizens”.
Comrade Murtala Usman reminded the government that petrol and electricity were being generated by public funds and must be accessible to the citizenry cheaply and comfortably.
On the issue of proposed minimum wage of N615, 000, Comrade Murtala Usman, said the NLC and TUC, considered many variables before arriving at the figure, in view of the hyper inflation in the country.
‘We are here to peacefully pickett the offices of DISCOS and NERC for few hours to send signal to the government and the authorities concerned to rescind the decision after which the organised labour would chart the next course of action”, he added.
