Electricity Tariff Hike: NLC protests in Owerri

* Insists no dialogue with Imo govt on sacked workers

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie, OWERRI The Imo State Branch of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has joined its counterparts in other states of the federation, to call on the Federal Government to reverse the hike in the electricity tariff, even as it warned that labour will not enter into any dialogue with the Imo State Government over the sack of about 3, 000 workers.

The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Austin Chilakpu, made the call on Monday, when he led scores of electricity consumers to the Owerri office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC. Chilakpu also called on the state governor, Rochas Okorocha to unconditionally recall the over 3, 000 workers sacked by the state government.

He said: “The NLC in the state would not enter into any negotiation with the governor until our sacked colleagues are recalled.

No amount of intimidation, display of weaponry and attack on workers by thugs, would stop us from protesting against the ill policy of the government, against the workers of Imo State.”

On the raging increase in electricity tariff, he said:

“The current increase in electricity tariff by 43 percent, would sadly escalate the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.” The Imo NLC boss however, suggested that pre-paid meters should be provided to electricity consumers, instead of forcing them into untold hardship.

He said: “The Organized labour is against the hike on electricity tariff. What we are asking for is for pre-paid meters. The current policy is exploitative and dehumanizing to Nigerian citizens and should be reversed.”

Vanguard