NLC Demands Merger of Petroleum, Power Ministries

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed ₦6tn bailout for power generation companies (GenCos), calling it a short-term fix that fails to address Nigeria’s chronic electricity crisis.

NLC President Joe Ajaero said the power sector has become “a perpetual millstone” on workers and citizens, accusing elites and operators of profiteering through phantom subsidy claims and tariff hikes while Nigerians “pay for darkness.”

The union argued that the bailout is a symptom of deeper structural rot and urged the government to merge the Ministries of Petroleum and Power into a single Ministry of Energy to ensure accountability and prioritise domestic electricity supply.

Nigeria’s power sector has faced severe shortages, with 16 of 33 plants offline in mid-March due to gas supply cuts linked to unpaid debts exceeding ₦3tn. Output dropped to 3,700–4,000 MW, far below the installed capacity of over 13,000 MW.

Ajaero criticised the petroleum sector for prioritising exports and foreign exchange earnings over domestic gas supply, leaving the Power Ministry struggling with grid collapses and reliance on diesel and generators.

The NLC said a unified ministry would enable holistic energy planning, fairer electricity pricing, and service-reflective tariffs tied to actual delivery, rather than the current “cost-reflective” model.

It also condemned the 2013 privatisation of the power sector, arguing that private operators have failed to improve generation capacity despite huge bailouts. “Electricity is a social service and a fundamental right, not a luxury commodity,” the union stated.

The NLC urged the government to halt the bailout, convene a National Stakeholders’ Summit, and draft a “People’s Power Roadmap” focused on public ownership, energy security, and the welfare of workers and citizens.