The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to resign over the persistent crisis in the nation’s power sector.
President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero made the call in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, saying overtime the minister has proved to be incompetent to resolve the intractable power crisis especially the constant collapse of the National Grid.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that so far, the National Grid has collapsed 12 times last year each time plunging the country in darkness, and still counting this year
According to the NLC, “If the Ministry of Power is manned by competent officials, the now embarrassing constant grid collapse would have been averted instead of the worrying statement by the Minister that this will continue as if this has always been the norm.
“We believe that this is a clear admission of incapacity and failure by the Ministry and we wonder why they would not do the honourable thing by resigning.
“It has to be noted that the number of times the National Grid has collapsed under these helmsmen is more than all the previous leaders in the history of our nation combined. Rather than the garrulous remarks, Nigerians expect more seriousness in handling their affairs.’
Ajaero described as absurd the allocation of N8 billion in the 2025 budget for the sensitization of Nigerians on how to pay electricity bills, saying it was a waste of national resources.
“We express our profound disappointment and outrage at the absurd quest for allocation of about N8 billion in the 2025 federal budget for the so-called “sensitization of Nigerians on the need to pay electricity bills,” as disclosed by Adelabu, during his recent budget defense in the National Assembly.
“This ludicrous proposal epitomizes the depth of profligacy, wastefulness, and corruption that has permeated governance in Nigeria.
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with crushing poverty, runaway inflation, and the unbearable weight of a failing economy, it is both insulting and tragic that our leaders find it appropriate to squander public funds on such frivolities.
“Proposing to allocate a whopping N8 billion to “sensitize” Nigerians who are already burdened with exorbitant electricity tariffs reeks of arrogance, insensitivity and an utter disregard for accountability,” Ajaero said.
