The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is demanding a major overhaul of the national power sector, arguing that current policies prioritize private gain over public service. Eche Asuzu, the NLC’s coordinator for Climate Change and Green Jobs, stated during a conference in Nairobi that the nation must shift from a failing top-down strategy to a people-focused model that treats energy as a fundamental public utility.
Asuzu criticized the existing privatization framework, claiming it has merely produced consistent power failures while allowing profiteers to benefit from the ongoing crisis. He urged the federal government to reclaim a more active role in energy management, emphasizing that energy must serve as a catalyst for industrialization and job creation rather than a source of persistent hardship.
To address widespread energy poverty, the NLC suggests moving away from reliance on foreign-imposed policy frameworks and instead engaging local communities directly. Asuzu also called for the resolution of long-standing infrastructure disputes, such as the Mambilla Power Project, and proposed de-dollarizing gas pricing to stabilize the economy and reduce costs for citizens.
