Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says the federal government is addressing the concerns raised by the labour unions over the electricity tariff hike.
On Monday, members of organised labour picketed the headquarters of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the federal ministry of power, and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in Abuja.
The protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other affiliate groups was replicated across Nigeria.
The labour unions were protesting the increase in electricity tariffs for customers in the Band A category.
Organised labour is calling for a reversal of the increase and a return to the negotiating table.
Addressing State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday at the end of the federal executive council (FEC) meeting, Adelabu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding democratic principles, including the right to peaceful protest.
Adelabu said the federal government is making efforts to strengthen the power grid, citing the construction of a 93-kilometre transmission line in the south-east and the acquisition of transformers and emergency resolution systems.
The minister said the initiatives are aimed at enhancing the overall resilience of the power infrastructure, which has been a long-standing concern for both the government and the public.
