Poor leadership capacity, reason for mess in energy sector – Labour

The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress on Thursday blamed the Federal Government for the continuous neglect of the energy sector, saying it has consistently failed to consult stakeholders in its efforts to find lasting solution to challenges in the sector.

NLC and TUC made the assertion in a joint address at the 2025 May Day celebration.

Parts of the address, signed by Joe Ajaero of NLC and Festus Osifo of TUC, read, “If Government really wishes to deliver an effective energy sector to Nigerians, it should sit down with critical stakeholders to turn around this sector so that it will play its critical role in Nigeria’s economic development.

“Energy poverty continues to hold Nigeria in its stranglehold. While we are blessed with enough natural resources to drive a robust energy sector, we have lacked the requisite leadership capacity to make it a reality. We are still at a great loss on how to explain events in the Oil and Gas sector. We have crude, yet Dangote claims to import crude to run his refinery. Dangote exports refined products yet, we import refined petroleum products. This defies logic.

“A nation that fails to harness and manage its energy resources efficiently is doomed to economic stagnation and systemic collapse. Nigeria’s energy sector remains a glaring example of mismanagement, corporate exploitation, and governmental negligence, leaving millions in darkness and stifling our industrial potential.

“That Nigeria is celebrating electricity generation of 5528 MW is disquieting for a country with over 200M people while South Africa generates almost the same at 43000MW for a population that is about 45M. What is worrying still is that not more than 4000MW of that entire generated amount will eventually get to homes and industries.”

Labour said government should be magnanimous enough to reflect on what it is subjecting Nigerians to daily.

“If the President is sinking N10 billion into solar in lamentation of the high cost of electricity in the Villa; the Deputy Governor of Lagos state wringing his hands on the millions he pays on electricity tariff monthly while many agencies of government are crying out, are they thinking of how the worker or the average citizen is going through under such high tariff?

“Energy, whether from electricity, oil, or gas—is the lifeblood of any modern economy. Yet, decades of corruption, privatization scams, and policy failures have turned this vital sector into a tool for profiteering by a privileged few, while ordinary Nigerians suffer. The federal government must urgently collaborate with workers, trade unions, and the people to reclaim this sector and ensure energy sovereignty for all.

“We still insist that Power Sector Privatization was a daylight heist and a Monumental Failure. A decade after privatization, Nigeria’s electricity sector remains in shambles. Nigerians are forced to pay exorbitant tariffs for darkness, while estimated billing continues as legalized robbery. If we are serious about development as a nation, we must be intentional about getting the energy sector especially the Power sector functional.”

Poor leadership capacity, reason for mess in energy sector – Labour