By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised concerns over an alleged plan by officials within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to spend nearly ₦20 billion on electricity grid expansion projects under what it described as questionable emergency procurement arrangements.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, the labour union warned that the proposed expenditure, reportedly tagged as “emergency refurbishment,” could undermine the financial stability of the power transmission company.
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The letter, signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, alleged that a group operating within TCN was attempting to use the emergency label to bypass established procurement procedures and conceal questionable transactions within complex documentation.
Ajaero cautioned that if the procurement plans are allowed to proceed, the financial health of the company could deteriorate further, potentially affecting its ability to operate effectively in the long term.
According to him, Nigeria’s national grid may remain trapped in recurring crises not necessarily due to a lack of technical capacity but because funds meant for infrastructure upgrades could be diverted.
The labour leader cited several examples of what he described as suspicious expenditure proposals, including ₦191 million earmarked for erosion control work on Tower T89 in Ihovbor, Okada, and ₦290.65 million proposed for fencing and drainage work at the Biu 132/33KV substation.
He also pointed to a planned allocation of ₦226.02 million for work on Tower T27 in the Etsako–Okpella–Ajaokuta transmission axis, arguing that such figures raise questions about financial prudence.
The NLC further alleged that there were plans to procure specialised transformers and switchgear in separate batches from the same supplier at progressively higher prices, which the union said suggests possible irregularities in the procurement process.
Ajaero also accused officials of planning to stockpile consumable materials such as insulators, conductors and clamps at prices significantly above prevailing market rates, allegedly under the pretext of preparing for potential grid failures.
The labour leader therefore called on the Minister of Power to immediately suspend all ongoing emergency procurement activities within TCN pending the outcome of a comprehensive forensic audit.
He also urged the minister to investigate the reported sale of land located behind the TCN substation in Katampe, Abuja.
In addition, the NLC requested a review of an alleged attempt to promote a staff member employed on September 16, 2021, to the position of Assistant General Manager by 2026, which the union said contravenes the company’s established promotion guidelines.
