The Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero has lashed out at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC) on the recent directive to Electricity Distribution Companies, (DisCos) to increase tariff from September 1, 2021.
In a telephone conversation with newsmen yesterday, Ajaero who is also the secretary-general of the Nigerian Union of Electricity employees, (NUEE), said the NERC has decided to ignore agreements reached with workers on electricity generation and distribution.
Ajaero, who is equally a member of a 7-man Federal Government and organised Labour Committee on Electricity tariff, chaired by Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, said a third force (from the Nigerian people) is needed beyond the push by Labour to ensure zero-tariff hike in electricity.
According to him, NERC has ignored all recommendations of the committee and has decided to go on a voyage of destabilising the already worsening economic situation.
Ajaero added that it is inhumane to insist on a tarrif increase while the approved N30,000 minimum wage, which is already watered down by harsh economic realities and the failure of some State governments to implement the new wage, three years after it was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
