The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have given the federal government until May 31 to reverse the electricity tariff.

The labour bodies gave the ultimatum in a communiqué issued in Abuja on Monday at the end of a joint emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting of the NLC and TUC.

On April 3, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved an increase in the electricity tariff for customers in the Band A classification—from N66 to N225 per kwh.

The tariff hike attracted public outcry and calls for its reversal.

On May 13, members of organised labour picketed the headquarters of the NERC, the federal ministry of power, and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in Abuja, demanding a reversal of the tariff.

The protest was replicated across Nigeria.

In the communiqué, the unions said the action taken by the government without consideration for the hardship of the masses was “unjust and burdensome”.

“The NEC once again vehemently condemns the unilateral increase in electricity tariffs by the authorities,” the communiqué reads.

“This action, taken without due consideration for the economic hardships faced by the masses and the provisions of the law, is deemed unjust and burdensome.

“The NEC reaffirms its demands for an immediate reversal of the tariff hike and the vexatious apartheid categorization into bands to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian workers and citizens and gives the National Electricity Regulatory Commission and the federal government until the last day of May 2024 to meet these demands.”

The organised labour said appropriate actions would be taken if the government failed to meet its demands.

“This includes, but is not limited to, the mobilisation of workers for peaceful protests and industrial actions to press home these demands for social justice and workers’ rights,” the unions said.

The labour unions also reiterated the May 31 ultimatum for the federal government to finalise the new national minimum wage fixing process for workers.

“We need an agreement that will genuinely reflect the true value of Nigerian workers’ contributions to the nation’s development and the current crisis of survival facing Nigerians as a result of government’s policies,” the labour movement added.

“The NEC affirms its commitment to ensuring that the interests and welfare of workers are adequately protected in the negotiation process.

“The NEC-in-session therefore reiterates the ultimatum issued by the NLC and TUC to the federal government, which expires on the last day of this month.”

The organised labour directed all councils whose state governments are yet to fully implement the N30,000 national minimum wage and its consequential adjustments to “immediately issue a joint two-week ultimatum to the culpable state governments to avert industrial action”.

1. The Naira on Monday appreciated in the parallel market to N1,475 per dollar from N1,480 per dollar last weekend. Similarly, the Naira appreciated to N1,468.99 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.

2. Organised Labour is back on the tripartite committee talks on minimum wage. Labour officials last week stormed out of the Zoom meeting after the Federal Government proposed N48,000 as the minimum wage. The decision to return for talks was taken at the joint meeting of the National Executive Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.

3. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, warned that the political crisis in Rivers State if not checked had the potential of destabilising not only the Niger Delta, but affecting other parts of the country. Jonathan called on the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor and estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike to sheathe their swords.

4. Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that the establishment of state police will go a long way to addressing the insecurity across the country. Bamidele, who stated this in Abuja on Monday in a statement issued by his media office, described the current state of policing in Nigeria as “ailing and dysfunctional.”

5. Two students of the Lagos State University were hit by stray bullets outside the school campus at a popular students’ residential area called PPL late Monday. While the names of the students are yet to be known, likewise the identity of the shooter(s), it was reported that the victims were hit when they went to purchase food around 8 pm.

6. A one-time Governor of Benue State and a contender to the national chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Gabriel Suswam has said he harbours no do-or-die affairs for the forthcoming party election. Senator Suswam stated this during the party’s expanded caucus meeting held at the secretariat located along Makurdi/Otukpo road on Monday.

7. In a daring and brazen attack, bandits struck in Abuja, abducting the family of a senior Customs officer before noon time on Sunday. According to eyewitnesses, the bandits, numbering over 10, arrived at the residence of the Customs officer in Shagari Quarters, Dei-Dei, about 11:30 am, and made their way straight to the compound.

8. An Upper Shariah Court sitting in Kano, on Monday, ordered the remand of the principal suspect, Shafi’u Abubakar in connection with an arson attack on a mosque in Gadan village, Gezawa Local Government Area of the state. Although the suspect pleaded guilty as charged, the case could not continue because of lack of legal representation.

9. Students in Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions will be the first batch of beneficiaries of the student loan scheme. Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, stated this on Monday while unfolding the conditions would-be beneficiaries will be required to meet.

10. Air Peace has dismissed reports of alleged safety breaches in the United Kingdom, stating that ramp inspection issues were resolved with the UK Civil Aviation Authority, CAA. The Lead, Corporate Communications of the airline, Mr Stanley Olisa, dismissed the allegation in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says the pilot phase of the student loan scheme will only be open to federal tertiary institutions.

President Bola Tinubu enacted an initial version of the student loan policy in June 2023 to grant interest-free loans to students.

The scheme was to commence in October 2023 but implementation was repeatedly deferred until a re-enactment in April 2024.

NELFUND recently scheduled the opening of the loan application and issuance portal for May 24.