8th February, 2016
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Members of the organised labour in Benin Monday described the 45 per cent electricity tariff increase as “electricity slavery” meant to increase the hardship and harsh economy Nigerians are already passing through.
P.M.NEWS reports that thousands of workers, residents and members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and civil society organisations staged a protest in Benin against the increase in electricity tariff by distribution companies.
The placard-bearing protesters marched from the National Museum through the busy King’s Square to the head office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company located on Akpakpava road, where they blocked all entry into the premises of the company.
The protest disrupted the free flow of traffic for several hours at the King’s Square and all adjoining roads leading to the Ring Road.
Edo State Chairman of NLC, Mr. Emmanuel Ademokun, while addressing journalists, accused the distribution company of disobeying a court order which stayed action on the said increase.
“We are here on picketing, as directed by the national body of the TUC, NLC and the civil society, against the electricity tarrif increase. The BEDC has actually refused the obey a court order; we are here to enforce that and tell them to remove the 45 per cent increase.
”The civil society groups, pensioners and market women are here with us. It is a fight for everybody; it is not a fight for only the workers,” Ademokun said, adding that the organised labour would continue to kick against the action of the BEDC until it reversed its decision.
According to him, the Benin disco, like its counterparts in other states, had failed to meet the expectations of Edo residents, as many of its customers were still subjected to estimated billing due to the non-availability of pre-paid meters.
“With they epileptic power supply, they (BEDC) are not improving anything. The law is quite clear; the memorandum of understanding says before any increase, you call the stakeholders and you must meter all the houses in the entire nation.
“About 80 per cent of Nigerians are yet to have meters and they are given estimated bills. The 45 per cent increase is too much for the common man to bear and we are against it,” he said.