The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Lagos State Chapter, has criticised the timing of the increase in electricity tariff, citing the prevailing economic challenges facing the nation at the moment.
Mr Gbenga Ekundayo, TUC Chairman in Lagos State, spoke on Monday when workers picketed the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and power distribution companies, DISCOS, in Lagos.
DAILY POST reports that the workers who were chanting solidarity songs carried placards with inscriptions such as, ‘Nigerian workers reject electricity tariff increase’, among others.
The protest, organised by the TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, was carried out simultaneously across the 36 states and the federal capital city, Abuja.
According to Ekundayo, the increase in electricity tariff has added to the financial burden of households, stressing that it also spells trouble for businesses, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
“With production costs soaring, companies are left with no choice but to pass on these expenses to consumers or face the grim reality of shutting down operations.
“Consequently, this vicious cycle of inflation and unemployment threatens to plunge the economy into further turmoil,” he said.