The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the recent claim by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, that over 150 million Nigerians currently have access to electricity, describing the statement as both “an insult to Nigerians” and “a bad joke taken too far.”
In a press statement issued Thursday, the NLC said the minister’s remarks were not only misleading but also a blatant attempt to downplay the real suffering of ordinary Nigerians who continue to endure chronic power outages and unreliable electricity supply nationwide.
“This is not only factually incorrect, but also insensitive to the daily experiences of millions of citizens living in darkness,” the statement read. “How can a minister in good conscience claim 150 million people enjoy power when entire communities go days or weeks without supply?”
The NLC urged the government to focus on solving the power crisis rather than “peddling propaganda.” It also called for a comprehensive audit of the power sector to uncover the truth behind persistent failures, despite trillions of naira reportedly spent over the years.
Power sector stakeholders, including consumer advocacy groups and energy analysts, have also dismissed the minister’s claims, citing low generation capacity, weak distribution infrastructure, and widespread load shedding across the country.
As public outrage mounts, the NLC warned that it may mobilize protests if the government continues to trivialize critical issues affecting citizens’ quality of life.
