NLC Shuts Down Jos DisCo Over Tariff Increase

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has shut down the headquarters of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) in Plateau State over electricity tariff hike.

Our correspondent reports that the labour union has blocked the main gate of the company, leaving the staff of the DisCo stranded outside the main building.

Security operatives including the police, Department of State services (DSS) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen around the entrance of the company.

NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced that they would shut down offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) nationwide as a result of the failure to comply with their demand of total reversal of electricity tariff hike.

The commission hiked the electricity tariff from N65/kwh to N225/Kwh for Band A users.

The Federal Government later approved a marginal slash, which labour rejected and demanded full reversal, giving an ultimatum of May 12.

The unions had also asked NERC to stop of what it described as “discriminatory practice” of segregating electricity consumers into “arbitrary” bands.

Giving an update on Sunday night, the head of information at NLC headquarters, Benson Upah, said members of the movement would converge on Labour House, Abuja by by 7am.

“NLC invites you to cover the picketing of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission headquarters in Abuja,” Benson said in the official notification sent to our correspondent last night.

He added that similar arrangement had been made nationwide.

Daily Trust