•Power transmission line
Labour unions in the public utilities sector and a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called for the reversal of all privatisations in Nigeria’s electricity, water, and waste management sectors, insisting that the policies have failed to serve the public interest.
The demand was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 2025 National Public Utilities Summit held in Abuja, reports Daily Trust.
Signatories to the communiqué included Comrade Alo Lawrence, Acting General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE); Comrade Opaluwa Simeon, Assistant General Secretary (Liaison) of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE); Comrade Yusuf Zambuk of the Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF); and Philip Jakpor, representing the CSOs.
They called for the urgent reversal of privatisation in the electricity sector and all existing privatisation arrangements in the water and waste sectors, urging the federal government to suspend ongoing or planned discussions with the World Bank and other international financial institutions (IFIs) on privatisation of public assets.
“We also recommend suspension of ongoing or planned discussions with the World Bank and other IFIs on the privatisation of public assets,” the communiqué said.
The forum proposed the adoption of Public-Public Partnerships (PUPs) as a sustainable, democratic, and equitable alternative, highlighting that PUPs have demonstrated success in delivering quality public services without profit motives.
They cited successful examples, including the Lagos–Kebbi rice farming and milling partnership (LAKE Rice), as a model of cooperative public sector collaboration that benefits citizens directly.
The summit further emphasised the need for reinvestment in human capital within the public sector, urging governments to allocate adequate resources for the training, motivation, and retention of public workers to drive efficiency, innovation, and transparency.
Participants also underscored the importance of social dialogue and collaboration among civil society, trade unions, and key stakeholders to ensure government accountability.
“Governments should put people before profit by halting the privatisation of essential services, reaffirming the public sector as the cornerstone of democratic development, equity, and sustainable livelihoods,” the communiqué added.
