Metro

BREAKING: Workers Stranded As Labour Pickets Jos DisCo, NERC

Published

2 years ago

May 13, 2024

Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Plateau State and the Trade Union Congress on Monday blocked the entrance of the headquarters of Jos Electricity Distribution Company in Jos, the state capital.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission offices located at the Gold and Base axis in Jos were also picketed by the union members, leaving their workers stranded.

The State Chairman of the NLC, Eugene Mangji, who led the union members, told The PUNCH in Jos that the action was in compliance with the directive of their national secretariat aimed at forcing the authorities to reverse the recent hike in the country’s electricity tariff.

“We have shot down the NERC office at Gold and Base. Right now, we are the JED headquarters at the Ahmadu Bello Way. We will continue until the right thing is done,” the NLC chairman stated.

The PUNCH reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart had earlier given the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, till May 12 to withdraw the recent hike in electricity tariff or face unprecedented industrial action.

The ultimatum was issued in a joint letter to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, CEO, dated May 3, 2024, and copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, the Ministers of Labour and Power, and the electricity distribution companies, DisCos, among others, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, President of NLC and its TUC’s counterpart.

The letter read: “This is to refer you to our May Day address where we expressed grave concerns regarding the recent announcement of an astronomical hike in electricity tariff across the nation from N65/kWh to N225/Kwh by your commission.

‘’We believe that this decision is not just morally reprehensible considering the difficulties Nigerians are faced with currently, but it blatantly disregards fundamental principles and statutory obligations.

‘’It is a slap in the face of justice and fairness, and we will not stand idly by as the masses and workers are subjected to such unacceptable exploitation.

“As the electricity sector regulator, it is imperative that your commission grasps the weight of its responsibilities. NERC’s role entails the regulation of electricity tariffs in the country, a duty outlined in explicit detail within the statutes governing the commission.

“Yet, with this recent tariff hike, which you have consented to, it is evident that the Commission has forsaken its duty and abandoned the people it was meant to protect to the fat cats in the electricity industry.

“We are miffed that NERC has become a tacit collaborator in crafting the oppressive pricing regime being perpetuated against Nigerian workers and people. The Laws that set up the commission mandate it to act as an unbiased ombudsman in the electricity industry.

“Unfortunately, the reverse is the case as it has acted in cahoots with the Distribution Companies, DisCos, and the Generating Companies, GenCos, to promote their nefarious market practices.

“The announced tariff hike not only defies the established procedure mandated by law but also tramples upon the rights of Nigerian citizens. It is a flagrant abuse of power and a clear violation of the trust bestowed upon your commission by the Nigerian people. Such actions will not be tolerated, and we refuse to accept them as the new norm.

“Nigerian workers and masses led by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, stand united in denouncing this injustice. We must defend the rights of our fellow citizens against exploitation.

“Therefore, we demand an immediate reversal of the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kwh, immediate cessation of the discriminatory practice of segregating electricity consumers into arbitrary bands, and restoration of the supremacy of the statutes governing the conduct of operators within the electricity industry.

“We give you until Sunday, May 12, 2024, to comply. Failure to do so will result in swift and decisive action on our part as we will not hesitate to mobilise our members and occupy all NERC’s offices and those of the DisCos nationwide until justice is served.”

Metro

Three Suspects Lynched As Mob Burns NSCDC Outpost In Kano

Published

9 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kano State has confirmed that a mob attacked its outpost in Danmaje, Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, killing three suspects.

In a press statement dated December 29, 2025, and signed by SC Ibrahim Idris Abdullahi, the Command Public Relations Officer, the NSCDC said the incident happened on Sunday, December 28, around 10:30pm.

According to the statement, residents of Yansango community brought three unknown men, suspected to be motorcycle thieves, to the civil defence outpost in Danmaje.

The area where they were arrested is said to be notorious for motorcycle theft.

Before officers could begin any investigation, people from several nearby communities ,including Yansango, Madinawa, Gagarawa, Limawa, Yankatsari, Danmaje and Gurjiya gathered at the outpost.

The crowd reportedly surrounded the office and demanded that the suspects be released to them.

The statement said the situation quickly got out of control. Before security reinforcements arrived, the mob forced their way into the office, set it on fire and lynched the three suspects.

NSCDC said officers on duty managed to escape, but three of them were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment.

While calling on the public to remain calm, the corps said the state commandant, acting on the directive of the Commandant General, has set up a committee to investigate the incident.

The aim, according to the statement, is to identify those involved and ensure they are brought to justice.

Metro

Moment Nigerians Rescued Anthony Joshua After Accident On Lagos–Ibadan Expressway [VIDEO]

Published

10 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

A video captured the moment Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua was rescued after a fatal accident along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

The police have confirmed that two people lost their lives in the accident while Joshua sustained injuries.

Metro

Edo: Man In Police Net For Allegedly Killing Abroad Returnee

Published

2 days ago

December 28, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a suspect identified as Amadin William, for allegedly killing a 43-year-old Eghosa Osaikhuowuomwan, popularly known as Didi
in Oben community, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.

Osaikhuowuomwan, who reportedly resides abroad was in his community to celebrate the Christmas and New Year where he was killed by the suspect.

The command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the incident, said the deceased went to attend a house warming party in the community on December 22, 2025, and in the process he (the deceased) excused himself to defecate where the suspect trailed him with matchett and machetted him in the neck.

Ikoedem, who said the deceased bled in the process and was confirmed dead in the hospital, adding that the deceased younger sister , Endurance Efe thereafter reported the incident to the police on December 23 2025.

She stressed that after the incident was reported to the police, the police started tracking the suspect, adding that he was eventually arrested in Benin City on December 27, 2025.

Ikoedem, who could not confirm if the deceased was an abroad returnee as claimed, noted: “The incident was reported on the 23rd of this month by the deceased edler sister named Endurance Efe.

“After giving the deceased a machete cut in the neck, the suspect fled the scene. It happened that on December 22, 2025, the deceased went for a house warning party in the community. During that party, he excused himself to defecate, and that was when the suspect came out and followed him with a machete, and gave him a cut in the neck, and he bled, and bled to death. He was actually confirmed dead at the hospital.

“The matter was reported at the police station the next day, by the deceased sister, and since then we have been tracking the suspect. He was arrested yesterday, December 27, 2025, in Benin City.”

The command’s spokesperson, while stating that the “suspect is currently in custody,” added that “but he is not the only one in custody. Two other persons were also arrested for arson.”

“Following the incident, hoodlums suspected to be from the victim’s family set ablaze the house of the suspect’s father and the community banner, for which two suspects—Prince Nosa ‘m’ aged 25 and Sunday Ogedegbe ‘m’ aged 30 were arrested and are in custody for Arson,” she said.