By Victor Christopher
Members of the organized labor movement have picketed the head offices of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Kano over the electricity tariff hike.
On Monday morning, the aggrieved members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) stood at the entrance gate of the KEDCO head office.
They were seen holding placards with various inscriptions such as “Stop Suffocating Us,” “Cut Down the Reckless Cost of Governance,” and “The Poor Can No Longer Breathe,” among others.
Speaking on behalf of the Union, the Chairperson of the Trade Union Congress TUC, Comrade Mubarak Buba Yarima, lamented that the Federal Government has suffocated Nigerians with its policies.
Comrade Yarima further demanded an urgent reversal of the hike in the electricity tariff, stressing that the union will not reopen KEDCO’s and NERC’s offices until the government addresses all its demands.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the NLC also shut down the headquarters of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) in Plateau State on Monday over an electricity tariff hike.
The labor union blocked the main gate of the company, leaving the staff of DisCo stranded outside the main building.
Security operatives, including the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were seen around the entrance of the company.
Both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had last week warned NERC and DisCos to immediately reverse the hike and stop the discriminatory practice on or before Sunday, May 12.
Giving an update on Sunday night, the head of information at NLC headquarters, Benson Upah, said in an official notification sent to journalists that members of the movement would converge on Labour House this morning by 7:00 a.m. for picketing of the NERC office in Abuja.
Upah, in the official notification sent to newsmen last night, said, “NLC invites you to cover the picketing of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission headquarters in Abuja,” said Benson.
He said a similar arrangement had been made nationwide.
