Organised Labour has rejected the planned privatization of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, as announced by the Federal Government, warning that it would worsen the socio-economic conditions of Nigerians.
President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, said the planned privatization portends great danger to the Power sector and holds great fear and trepidation for major stakeholders within the Power sector.
NLC called on all Nigerians to rise up against it in the interest of future generations, arguing that “It imperils the ability of the state to control, regulate and guarantee the safety of the nation’s grid system at all times.
He said The proposed plans by the federal government to restructure the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) as stated by the Minister of Power; Mr. Adebayo Adelabu is laden with other intentions that may be hidden but very clear to every discerning Nigerian. It portends great danger to the Power sector and holds great fear and trepidation for major stakeholders within the Power sector.
They are the same stories that Nigerians have heard over the years which have largely yielded no significant results except the increased suffering that the exercise became for Nigerian people and the economy.
“It is clear that the main motive behind the plans for the proposed restructuring is none other than to prepare the TCN for eventual take over by the cronies and lackeys of the ruling elite. When words like unbundling are bandied about in Nigeria, the masses and workers become frightened because of the level of misery such words have foisted on the people.
Unbundling heralded the death of the downstream sector of the nation’s Petroleum sector, it sounded the death knell on the Power sector and raising its ugly specter once again at this time when the people are facing serious socioeconomic challenges may compound the woes of the people.
“NLC believes that the President is making the same mistake previous administrations have made with the policy direction his Minister of Power is trying to follow in seeking to unbundle TCN for privatization. We had thought that the President would have convened a genuine national stakeholders’ forum to critically review the Privatisation exercise in the sector which the government itself agrees has failed to attain any of its major objectives rather than seeking to embark on another exercise that would bring more crisis to the Power sector.
“Today, Nigerians have witnessed 500 percent tariff increase yet, there is no improvement in services to Nigerians. The Power sector remains stagnant as no significant investment was made by those who bought the GENCOs and DISCOs through proxies. What we are reaping today are the unfortunate outcomes of the errors of yesterday and it is obvious that we are bent on going the same route.
