NLC Calls for Minister of Power’s Resignation Over National Grid Collapse

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the resignation of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, due to the repeated collapse of the national power grid. The NLC expressed deep concern over the worsening state of Nigeria’s electricity sector, which it believes is on the verge of total failure.

In a statement issued by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the union criticized the ministry for its inability to address the ongoing power grid failures. Ajaero remarked that if competent officials were in charge of the Ministry of Power, the constant grid collapses would have been avoided. He further accused the Minister of downplaying the situation by stating that the grid failures were a norm, which Ajaero saw as an admission of incompetence.

“The number of times the National Grid has collapsed under these officials is more than all previous administrations combined. Instead of making dismissive statements, Nigerians expect a serious approach to fixing the grid,” Ajaero said.

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The NLC also condemned the Ministry of Power’s proposed allocation of ₦8 billion in the 2025 budget for educating Nigerians on how to pay their electricity bills. Ajaero argued that the focus should be on improving critical infrastructure rather than spending on what he described as a frivolous project, especially with the power sector on the brink of collapse.

The NLC President pointed out the failure of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to properly regulate the sector, accusing the commission of failing to protect consumers. He highlighted a recent incident where NERC allegedly colluded with a distribution company to dismiss a managing director for exposing unethical practices.

The union also criticized the government’s approach to managing the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), citing that contractors are owed over ₦200 billion, a situation exacerbated by the government’s failure to prioritize payments and resolve infrastructure issues.

Ajaero concluded by warning that the NLC would continue to monitor developments in the power sector and resist any attempt to misuse public funds. He called for urgent reforms to prevent the total collapse of the power sector, emphasizing that incompetence should not be rewarded, and accountability must be enforced.