•Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu (L) and NLC President Joe Ajaero
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has knocked the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, over electricity bands and migration plans.
The labour leader questioned why some people should be in Band A and others in lower bands, saying that the practice is discriminatory, reports Channels TV.
He slammed the service-based tariff which put electricity users in different bands, according to service delivered by distribution companies, calling it the highest form of ‘419’.
During a budget defence session at the National Assembly this week, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, claimed that 90 per cent of electricity users in Band A have confirmed that they are getting the benefit of being in Band A. He also said that more customers would be migrated to Band A to enjoy electricity for longer hours.
However, Ajaero questioned the idea of migrating customers from one band to another.
“Now the ministry is talking about migrating from Band B To Band A, that is the highest level of 419 one can think of,” Ajaero said.
The local parlance 419 has become notorious for the description of fraudulent activities.
“Who is in Band A and who is in Band B? Is it based on geographical area that you have Band A or Band B or is it based on the dictates of the provider?
“In countries of the world that are targeting 24 hours power supply, why would somebody be talking about Band A or Band B? How would it happen? So, that idea is concocted to make money unnecessarily and say people are migrated.”
“What are the conditions to be on Band A? What are the conditions to be on Band Be? Why would you discriminate? Why would you give me Band B and give somebody Band A? So, these are the issues.”
Band A are those who enjoy electricity supply for 20 hours per day, Band B a minimum of 16 hours, Band C get a minimum of 12-hour power supply, Band D a minimum of 8 hours, and Band E a minimum of four hours.
Ajaero also faulted the federal government for making provisions for power distribution companies which are supposedly private companies in the 2025 budget.
He said that the money that the government wants to use to improve the power sector should be used for something else while the private-owned power companies should use the money they generate to run their companies.
