Nigeria Still Far from Solving Electricity Challenges, Declares NLC Chair, Joe Ajaero

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

•Says increase in tariffs dragging masses below poverty line, insists on dialogue

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, yesterday, lamented what he described as the poor state of the nation’s power supply.

According to him, the country was nowhere in terms of stability in power generation, transmission and distribution, adding that the federal government’s decision to raise tariffs across various sectors, among other policies, has plunged Nigerians further into poverty.

Espousing the position of the labour movement on the 50 percent hike in telephone services, Ajaero said the only solution was for government to halt the implementation until there was an extensive and exhaustive consultations with relevant stakeholders.

Ajaero, who spoke last night as guest on the Channels Television programme, Politics Today, faulted the implementation of privatisation policy, saying then administration went into it without proper consultations and a clear understanding of the limitations.

The NLC president said whereas the private investors were expected to execute the venture through foreign direct investment, most of them relied on loans from local banks.

He said the action of the private sector power firms resulted in liquidity crisis in the banks and led to  subsequent take over of the power distribution companies by the lending banks.

Speaking on the challenges of procurement of electricity distribution accessories, Ajaero said there was need to grow the  local content to ensure availability of the materials at affordable rates.

Ajaero wondered why the Ministry of Power was not paying attention to the issues of local content in the materials used in the nation’s power sector.

He said there used to be meter test in Kafuna, Port Harcourt, and in Oshodi, Lagos, where mechanical meters were produced.

“Today, the power sector has metamorphosed into various entities and we have NEMSA and other meters that are produced, how many meters are we producing? Must we go outside to import? These are some of the challenges facing the power sector that we need to get right,” he said.

Regarding cases of vandalism of power supply cables and other facilities, Ajaero said there were modern technologies to help to know when electricity lines are tampered with and to be used in policing the facilities.

He described the 5,000 mega watts often referred to as electricity generation by the government as very insignificant compared to the level of power supply needed to support the country’s soaring population of over 200 million.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW

Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.

Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

0.00USD

Amount
0.00

TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com

LATEST POSTS