The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has made a significant demand for the Federal Government to merge the Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources into a single Ministry of Energy. This call comes in light of ongoing inefficiencies and structural failures within Nigeria’s power sector, which have raised concerns among labor leaders and citizens alike.

Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC, has been vocal in rejecting the proposed ₦6 trillion bailout for power generation companies. He argues that this bailout is merely a symptom of deeper structural issues within the power sector, rather than a viable solution. Ajaero’s stance reflects a growing frustration with the current state of energy management in Nigeria, where the separation of power and petroleum ministries has led to significant inefficiencies.

According to the NLC, the current system has resulted in 16 out of 33 power plants being offline due to gas supply cuts, which has severely impacted electricity generation. The country’s current output of power generation stands at a mere 3,700 to 4,000 MW, far below the installed capacity of over 13,000 MW. This discrepancy highlights the urgent need for a more integrated approach to energy management.

The NLC emphasizes that electricity should be treated as a social service and a fundamental right, not merely a commodity for trade. Ajaero stated, “Electricity is a social service and a fundamental right, not a luxury commodity to be traded on the various capitalists’ markets.” This perspective underscores the NLC’s belief that access to reliable electricity is essential for the well-being of all citizens.

Furthermore, the NLC has criticized the privatization of the power sector that took place in 2013, claiming it has failed to improve generation capacity and has instead led to increased inefficiencies. Ajaero pointed out that the reliance on public funds to sustain a flawed system places an undue burden on ordinary citizens, who face high tariffs and persistent outages.

The NLC is calling for a halt to the proposed bailout and urges the government to convene a National Stakeholders’ Summit to address these pressing issues. They argue that merging the ministries would facilitate holistic energy planning and lead to fairer electricity pricing, ultimately benefiting consumers and the economy.

As the NLC continues to advocate for these changes, the future of Nigeria’s energy policy remains uncertain. Details remain unconfirmed regarding how the government will respond to these demands and whether any significant reforms will be implemented in the near future.

Сообщение Nlc demands energy ministry merger: Why is the NLC demanding an energy ministry merger? появились сначала на naijanewsreporters.