TUC talks tough on proposed 65% electricity tariff hike

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has firmly rejected the federal government’s proposed 65% hike in electricity tariffs, describing it as an added burden on already struggling citizens.

This stance was detailed in a communiqué released following the TUC’s first-quarter 2025 National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting, held Thursday in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, TUC President, Mr. Festus Osifo, expressed strong disapproval of the proposal, stating that the congress “strongly” condemned the planned increase.

“It is alarming that the government is considering this hike when the previous increment has already inflicted severe hardship on citizens,” Osifo said.

He criticized the timing of the proposal, labeling it as a “deliberate act of economic oppression against Nigerians, who are already struggling under unbearable economic conditions.”

Osifo further pointed out that the government had failed to deliver on its earlier promise of improved electricity services following previous tariff adjustments.

“Furthermore, the improved service quality promised during the last tariff hike, particularly for consumers under the so-called ‘Band A’ category, has not been realised. Most consumers, regardless of their tariff band, continue to live in perpetual darkness,” he added.

The TUC president also addressed the proposed 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs, stating that the NAC fully supports the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in rejecting the move. He criticized the lack of proper economic impact assessments, stressing that decisions affecting public welfare should involve meaningful stakeholder engagement.

On the issue of toll gates, Osifo reiterated the congress’s opposition to the planned reintroduction of tolls on federal roads.

“While we acknowledge that tolling is a globally recognised method of generating revenue for road maintenance, it is unacceptable to impose tolls on roads that are unpaved, dilapidated, and riddled with potholes,” he said.

Describing the move as exploitative, Osifo stated, “Our highways are death traps, unsafe, abandoned, and filled with potholes. Rather than fulfilling its responsibility to fix and maintain these roads, the government is resorting to extortion.”

The TUC has demanded that all roads earmarked for tolling must first be rehabilitated to international standards before any toll collection is considered.

In addition, the NAC condemned any attempts to suppress union activities in the private sector, emphasizing that unionisation is a fundamental right protected by both national and international labour laws.

Osifo called on the government to foster inclusive dialogue and uphold democratic values in policymaking, stressing the importance of reforms that genuinely reflect the interests of Nigerian citizens.