… Calls for merger of Ministries of Petroleum and Power into Ministry of Energy
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected a proposed N6 trillion bailout for power generation companies, arguing that repeated financial interventions have failed to deliver improved electricity supply across the country.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made the position known in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, where he called for urgent and far-reaching structural reforms in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Describing the bailout as a misplaced priority, Ajaero said it merely reflects deeper systemic problems within the power industry.
“The proposed N6 trillion bailout is a mere symptom of deeper structural failures in the power sector, and repeated financial interventions have not translated into improved electricity supply for Nigerians,” he said.
He warned against the continued use of public funds to sustain what he described as a flawed system, noting that ordinary Nigerians are already burdened by high electricity tariffs and persistent outages.
The labour leader also proposed the merger of the Ministries of Petroleum and Power into a single Ministry of Energy, arguing that better coordination would address inefficiencies particularly in gas supply for thermal power generation.
According to him, the current separation of the two sectors has contributed significantly to operational challenges within the electricity value chain.
Ajaero maintained that an integrated energy framework would prioritise domestic electricity needs, strengthen energy security, and support national development.
He further called for an immediate halt to the proposed bailout, insisting that public resources should not be used to support what he termed failed private sector investments.
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“Electricity must be treated as a social service and a fundamental right, not a profit-driven commodity, if Nigeria is to achieve affordable and reliable power supply,” he added.
The NLC president stressed that reforms in the sector must prioritise service delivery, public interest, and the welfare of Nigerian workers.
He also urged the Federal Government to convene a broad stakeholders’ summit aimed at developing a people-centred roadmap for the power sector, with policies focused on improving access, affordability, and long-term sustainability of electricity supply.
