Dark Days Ahead| Tariff Hike Sparks Strike Threat in Power Sector

Nigerians are facing the threat of nationwide blackouts as electricity workers prepare to go on strike over unresolved labor issues. The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has criticized the recent electricity tariff hike, from ₦66 to ₦225 per kilowatt-hour for Band A customers, calling it unfair and unsustainable, especially amid a worsening cost-of-living crisis.

The union has issued warnings to the federal government, demanding a reversal of the hike and threatening industrial action if their demands are not met. They argue that the new tariffs place an excessive burden on working-class families and deepen economic inequality.

The electricity workers joined a nationwide protest led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). That strike led to the shutdown of the national power grid, leaving the country in darkness. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed that union members forcibly removed operators from control rooms and shut down multiple substations, causing a complete grid collapse.

in a similar incident in February 2025, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) faced disruptions after NUEE picketed its offices in response to staff terminations. IBEDC maintained that the dismissals were due to poor performance and followed proper procedures.

These repeated tensions between electricity workers and government authorities highlight the fragility of Nigeria’s power sector and growing unrest in the labor force. As the dispute escalates, Nigerians remain deeply concerned about the risk of another national blackout.