The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the allocation of ₦8 billion in the 2025 federal budget for sensitising Nigerians on the need to pay electricity bills, describing it as “absurd.”

In a statement signed on Tuesday by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the union expressed its disapproval of the Federal Ministry of Power’s proposal, which aims to educate citizens on timely bill payments.

During a budget defence session at the National Assembly on Monday, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, explained that the initiative would address power theft, poor payment culture, and the protection of national power assets. He highlighted plans to use diverse media platforms—social, digital, and print—to reach Nigeria’s population of over 200 million.

Adelabu also emphasised the need for a national reorientation on electricity as a resource that requires proper funding and maintenance for a stable supply.

Reacting to the proposed budget, Ajaero labelled the request as outrageous, urging the Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to refocus on reviving the sector, which he described as being on the brink of collapse.

The statement, titled ‘Before the Collapse of the Power Sector: N8 Billion Budget for Electricity Bill Sensitisation and Matters Arising’, accused the power sector’s leadership of gross incompetence and corruption.

“The power sector in Nigeria is teetering on the edge of collapse. Despite the authority conferred upon it by the 2023 Electricity Act, NERC has consistently failed to regulate effectively or fulfil its obligations to consumers. Meanwhile, the Minister is requesting ₦8 billion to teach Nigerians how to pay electricity bills,” Ajaero said.

He further criticised the inability to resolve longstanding issues despite significant investments, noting that contractors with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are owed over ₦200 billion.

“If the Ministry of Power was managed by competent hands, the embarrassing frequency of grid collapses would have been averted. Instead, we are subjected to statements by the Minister suggesting that such failures are the norm,” he said.

Ajaero also called attention to incidents of unethical practices, including NERC’s alleged collusion in the dismissal of a whistleblower who exposed irregularities in a distribution company (DISCO).

“NERC, rather than promoting transparency, has chosen to enable malpractice, further contributing to the chaos in the sector,” the statement added.

The NLC expressed outrage at what it termed a waste of public funds, warning that such mismanagement could deepen Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.

“Our stance is clear: we will not tolerate the misuse of public funds in the guise of governance. This proposal is a glaring example of the incompetence that continues to hinder Nigeria’s progress,” the union said.

The NLC vowed to closely monitor the situation and mobilise against any attempts to misuse the budget process for personal or political gain.