Ajaero’s address was a scathing critique of the current state of electricity supply, which he described as a national embarrassment. Despite the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria over ten years ago, power generation has remained stagnant at a meager 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts—a figure unchanged from pre-privatization levels. This stagnation persists even as Nigeria’s population and industrial energy demands continue to grow, exposing what the NLC calls a systemic failure in governance and corporate mismanagement.
The NLC leader accused power distribution companies of deliberately rejecting electricity loads from the Transmission Company, exacerbating grid instability and frequent nationwide blackouts. He dismissed claims of progress in the sector, arguing that privatization has only deepened energy poverty while enriching a select few. “What was sold to Nigerians as reform has turned out to be a grand deception,” Ajaero declared. “The so-called investors lacked both the technical expertise and financial capacity to manage these critical assets. Instead of improving supply, they have turned electricity into an exploitative venture, funded by loans from Nigerian banks—burdening the economy while delivering nothing.”
Ajaero reserved particular criticism for the government’s band classification system, which categorizes consumers into different tariff brackets. He labeled the policy a disguised price hike, one that forces Nigerians to pay exorbitant rates for unreliable service. “Band A consumers are billed outrageously yet still suffer erratic supply,” he said. “This is not reform; it is extortion. Electricity is a basic right, not a luxury to be auctioned to the highest bidder while the poor are left in the dark.”
The NLC also dismissed recent proposals for a three-trillion-naira bailout for power generation companies, calling it a politically motivated scheme ahead of the 2027 elections. “There is no justification for such a massive payout to private firms that have consistently failed,” Ajaero argued. “If the government truly cares about Nigerians, it should halt this reckless diversion of public funds to failed investors and instead reclaim the power sector as a public service.”
Drawing parallels with global best practices, Ajaero emphasized that no nation has successfully run its electricity sector purely for profit without inflicting hardship on citizens. He called for an immediate reversal of privatization, advocating instead for state-led investment in generation and transmission infrastructure. “Only the government can bear the long-term costs and risks of power sector development,” he asserted. “Private operators have proven incapable. It’s time to restore electricity as a social good, not a profit-driven commodity.”
While acknowledging the new Electricity Act, which allows states to generate and distribute power, Ajaero cautioned that decentralization alone would not solve the crisis. He demanded a National Stakeholders’ Summit to draft a worker-centered roadmap for the sector—one that prioritizes affordability, stability, and public ownership. “We need a genuine dialogue, not another bureaucratic exercise,” he insisted. “Manufacturers, labor unions, and technical experts must come together to chart a sustainable path forward.”
The NLC’s threat of mass action underscores growing frustration among workers and businesses over the deteriorating power situation. With industries struggling under the weight of exorbitant diesel costs and households enduring daily blackouts, the union’s stance reflects a broader demand for systemic change. “Nigerians cannot keep paying for darkness,” Ajaero concluded. “If the government fails to act, we will mobilize the people to reclaim their right to electricity.”
The looming confrontation between labor and the government signals a critical juncture in Nigeria’s energy crisis. As grid collapses become more frequent and public anger mounts, the NLC’s ultimatum may force a long-overdue reckoning with the failures of privatization—and a possible return to public control of the power sector.
