On Monday, members of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in Plateau State staged a protest at the headquarters of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company in Jos, the state capital.

They also picketed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission offices at the Gold and Base axis, leaving workers stranded.

The State Chairman of the NLC, Eugene Mangji, leading the union members, stated  that the protest was in adherence to their national secretariat’s directive to oppose the recent increase in the country’s electricity tariff.

The NLC chairman said “We have shot down the NERC office at Gold and Base. Right now, we are the JED headquarters at the Ahmadu Bello Way. We will continue until the right thing is done.

“We believe that this decision is not just morally reprehensible considering the difficulties Nigerians are faced with currently, but it blatantly disregards fundamental principles and statutory obligations.

‘’It is a slap in the face of justice and fairness, and we will not stand idly by as the masses and workers are subjected to such unacceptable exploitation.

“As the electricity sector regulator, it is imperative that your commission grasps the weight of its responsibilities. NERC’s role entails the regulation of electricity tariffs in the country, a duty outlined in explicit detail within the statutes governing the commission.

“Yet, with this recent tariff hike, which you have consented to, it is evident that the Commission has forsaken its duty and abandoned the people it was meant to protect to the fat cats in the electricity industry.

“We are miffed that NERC has become a tacit collaborator in crafting the oppressive pricing regime being perpetuated against Nigerian workers and people. The Laws that set up the commission mandate it to act as an unbiased ombudsman in the electricity industry.

“Unfortunately, the reverse is the case as it has acted in cahoots with the Distribution Companies, DisCos, and the Generating Companies, GenCos, to promote their nefarious market practices.

“The announced tariff hike not only defies the established procedure mandated by law but also tramples upon the rights of Nigerian citizens. It is a flagrant abuse of power and a clear violation of the trust bestowed upon your commission by the Nigerian people. Such actions will not be tolerated, and we refuse to accept them as the new norm.

“Nigerian workers and masses led by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, stand united in denouncing this injustice. We must defend the rights of our fellow citizens against exploitation.

“Therefore, we demand an immediate reversal of the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kwh, immediate cessation of the discriminatory practice of segregating electricity consumers into arbitrary bands, and restoration of the supremacy of the statutes governing the conduct of operators within the electricity industry.

“We give you until Sunday, May 12, 2024, to comply. Failure to do so will result in swift and decisive action on our part as we will not hesitate to mobilise our members and occupy all NERC’s offices and those of the DisCos nationwide until justice is served.”

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a stark warning to Nigeria, urging the government to address its costly and inefficient subsidy regime or risk severe economic consequences.

In a statement released yesterday, the IMF cautioned that maintaining pump prices and tariffs below cost-recovery could lead to implicit subsidy costs ballooning to 3% of GDP in 2024, up from 1% in 2023.

Notably, President Bola Tinubu’s administration took a significant step by removing fuel subsidies during his inauguration on may 29, 2023.

According to the organization, this would put a significant strain on the country’s finances and undermine efforts to address poverty and inequality.

The IMF also noted that the current subsidy regime disproportionately benefits higher-income groups, rather than the vulnerable populations it is intended to support.

The organization urged the government to remove costly and untargeted fuel and electricity subsidies as inflation subsides and support for the vulnerable is scaled up.

Instead, the IMF recommended retaining a lifeline tariff to protect the poor and vulnerable from the impact of subsidy removal to help ensure that support reaches those who need it most, while also promoting economic efficiency and fiscal sustainability.

The IMF’s warning comes as Nigeria grapples with rising inflation and a struggling economy. The government has faced intense pressure to address the subsidy regime, with many arguing that it is unsustainable and ineffective.

The IMF’s projections suggest that implicit fuel subsidies could reach a staggering N8.4 trillion in 2024, up from N1.85 trillion in 2023, N4.4 trillion in 2022, N1.86 trillion in 2021, and N89 billion in 2020.

The electricity subsidy being paid to customers under Band B, C, D, and E was projected to stand at N540bn by the end of 2024.

According to reports, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Heineken Lokpobiri, have repeatedly debunked claims that the Federal Government was paying fuel subsidies through the back door.

Meanwhile, the IMF’s call for the removal of electricity subsidy is coming amid protests from Nigerians who are calling on the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to return the Band A tariff to the status quo.

Additionally, The organised labour has threatened to stage a protest on Monday if Adelabu fails to heed their calls.

In a worrying incident, a XEJET Airlines aircraft carrying 52 passengers veered off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Saturday, just 16 days after Dana Air was shut down by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities.

The Airbus, with registration number 5N-BZZ, departed from Abuja and landed in Lagos at 11:29 am.

However, it skidded off the runway of the domestic wing of the airport, prompting the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to shut down the 18/Left runway.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the incident and is investigating the cause of the skid.

No injuries or fatalities were reported, and an investigation is ongoing.

Details later……..