Nigeria Labour Congress Demands Overhaul of Energy Sector

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is calling for a radical restructuring of Nigeria's energy sector, arguing that the current system has failed to deliver reliable power and instead profits from the nation's persistent energy shortages. The union contends that energy should be treated as a public good, not merely a commodity driven by profit motives.

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Clearly, the models we have adopted have not worked, and that calls for a lot of political will to do the right thing.

Eche Asuzu, the National Coordinator of the NLC’s Climate Change, Green Jobs, and Just Transition Programme, speaking at a recent convening in Nairobi, Kenya, emphasized the need to move away from a top-down energy policy. He advocated for a people-centered system that involves communities directly in decision-making, as they best understand the challenges of energy poverty. "We have seen that the top-down approach has not worked," Asuzu stated, calling for a "bottom-up engagement" to gather experiences and learn lessons.

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We have seen that the top-down approach has not worked. So, we need a system of bottom-up engagement that allows us to gather the information we need, share experiences and learn the necessary lessons that can move us forward.

The NLC specifically criticized the privatization of the energy sector, noting that despite this, the country continues to suffer from "megawatts of darkness." They argue that privatization has not led to improved power generation but rather to a situation where "people are making profit out of darkness." The union insists that the Federal Government must reassess its energy policies to ensure the sector drives industrialization, economic transformation, and the creation of quality jobs.

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People are making profit out of darkness instead of generating enough power to unlock our potential as a country. That is a trend we must find a way to reverse.

Furthermore, the NLC stressed the importance of transitioning to green energy to position Nigeria advantageously for global industrialization trends. "A continent with the youngest population in the world cannot afford not to industrialise," Asuzu asserted, highlighting the need for economic transformation and the creation of "green jobs." However, they cautioned that these jobs must also be "decent jobs," implying a need for fair labor practices within the burgeoning green economy.

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We privatised. What has become of it? We privatised, but we are producing megawatts of darkness, and that is very unfortunate.