The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has sharply criticized recent remarks by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who claimed that over 150 million Nigerians now enjoy stable electricity, supported by a supposed 5,500 megawatt (MW) capacity.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, described Adelabu’s assertion as “deeply misleading and offensive,” stating that such claims insult the daily realities of Nigerians living with erratic or nonexistent power supply.
Ajaero argued that the Minister’s comments represent yet another round of “statistical gymnastics and hollow propaganda” that offers no comfort to citizens facing regular blackouts, soaring electricity bills, and a power system plagued by inefficiency.
Nigeria’s Power Reality vs. Global Benchmark
According to the NLC, the global standard recommends a minimum of 1,000MW of electricity for every one million people. By this metric, Nigeria, with an estimated population of 150 million, should be generating at least 150,000MW. Instead, the nation consistently struggles to maintain a fraction of that, hovering around a peak generation of 5,000–5,500MW, which remains unstable.
“On what basis is the Minister claiming that 150 million Nigerians have access to consistent electricity?” Ajaero asked. “Where is the evidence of expanded power generation, improved infrastructure, or enhanced distribution capacity?”
12 Years of Privatization, Trillions Spent—No Results
The NLC further lamented the failure of the 2013 privatization of the power sector, calling it a monumental betrayal. The initiative, which transferred national electricity assets to private companies for a reported N400 billion, has not delivered the promised improvements in service.
“After over a decade and trillions of Naira in investments and subsidies, Nigerians are still in the dark—literally,” the statement read. “This is not reform; it is failure repackaged as progress.”
The union accused the federal government of continuing to prop up failed private operators, pointing to the recent approval of over N4 trillion in public subsidies to electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and Generation Companies (GenCos), despite their poor performance.
Band A, B, and C: “Legalised Exploitation”
Ajaero also condemned the recent introduction of a tiered electricity billing system—known as Band A, B, and C—which the NLC sees as a veiled mechanism for overcharging consumers. The union claims DISCOs have made over N700 billion from these “forced and exploitative tariffs” without corresponding improvements in supply.
He added, “Millions of Nigerians still live without access to electricity. The few who do are often subjected to constant blackouts and arbitrary disconnection threats, while being forced to pay inflated bills.”
Opposition to Selling Off the Transmission Company of Nigeria
The NLC expressed strong opposition to the federal government’s reported plan to privatize the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), describing it as a dangerous step that would strip the country of its last publicly-owned electricity asset.
“This is not reform—it’s an economic ruse disguised as policy,” the union said. “Selling off the TCN will further entrench monopoly power in the hands of unaccountable private interests.”
A Final Word to the Minister
In closing, Ajaero urged Minister Adelabu to stop making baseless declarations and focus instead on delivering measurable improvements in electricity supply.
“Nigerians are tired of empty rhetoric and inflated statistics. We demand light, not lies,” he said.
