The National Labour Congress (NLC) protest against the hike in electricity tariff recorded a huge success as workers across the country stormed the streets to air their grievances.
But one question still begs for an answer, now that the protest is over, what next?
Well, the federal government has disclosed its next step.
Before we go into the details of this gist, let’s take a quick peep at the protest that happened on Monday.
The hardship Nigerians are facing is very noticeable, not to mention the heavy burden of the recently increased electricity tariff.
Electricity Tariff Must Go
It was on this mandate that the organised labour disrupted activities in the power sector, demanding the reversal of the tariff.
The Congress picketed offices of all eleven Electricity Distribution Companies and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
In Abuja, the protest was led by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, to the Ministry of Power and the NERC headquarters.
Offices of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company were also shut down as workers were prevented from resumption.
Abuja was only a tip of the iceberg.
The union picketed the offices of the eleven discos in Kwara, Lagos, Kaduna, Plateau, Enugu, Sokoto and other parts of the country.
The crowd that stormed the streets for the planned protest is a testament to the outright rejection of the tariff hike.
The Way Forward
Now, the protest is over and Nigerians are waiting patiently to see what happens next.
The NLC has promised that there will be a total shutdown if the electricity tariff hike is not reversed.
Trust us, from what we saw on the Monday protest, the union mean business.
However, on the side of the Government, they have revealed that they are ready to negotiate with the organized labour.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Power, Florence Eke confirmed that the Federal Government, through the Permanent Secretary, Mamman Mahmuda, had convened a consultative meeting.
Proper Consultation
That meeting is set to hold next week with the organized labour and stakeholders to address the matter.
Also Read: #Protest: Kogi NLC Says Electricity Tariff Hike Is “Broad Day Robbery”
In her words: “The permanent secretary assured me that the Ministry is also a worker.
“The Ministry has asserted that its responsibility is to make policy.
Agencies, in this case, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and other agencies only implement it.
“The Ministry will invite all stakeholders for a proper consultation by next week.”
