The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have jointly condemned the Federal Government over what they described as its persistent neglect and poor handling of the nation’s energy sector.
In a strongly worded statement released on Thursday, the two foremost labour bodies accused the government of sidelining key stakeholders and failing to adopt inclusive strategies in addressing the ongoing crises affecting electricity and fuel supply across the country.
According to the labour unions, the Federal Government has continued to make critical decisions without meaningful consultations with industry experts, labour representatives, and relevant players—an approach they say has only worsened the problems plaguing the sector.
“The energy sector, which is vital to the nation’s economic growth and industrial development, has been left in disarray due to a lack of foresight and coordinated action from the government,” the statement read.
The unions pointed out that Nigeria continues to suffer from unstable electricity supply, poor infrastructure, rising tariffs, and an unreliable fuel distribution system—issues that they say stem from policy inconsistencies and a disconnect between the government and the people it claims to serve.
They also expressed deep concerns over the implications of the neglect on workers, businesses, and everyday Nigerians, stressing that sustainable solutions can only be achieved through genuine dialogue and collaboration.
“Decisions affecting millions of lives cannot be made in boardrooms behind closed doors,” the NLC and TUC stated. “We demand an urgent policy review, transparency, and the inclusion of all critical stakeholders to chart a path forward for the sector.”
The unions warned that if the government continues on its current path of unilateral decision-making, they may be forced to mobilize nationwide actions to press for accountability and reforms in the energy sector.
This latest criticism comes amid widespread power outages, increased electricity tariffs, and frequent fuel scarcity that have left Nigerians frustrated and businesses struggling to survive.