NLC Calls for Merger of Gas and Power Ministries

Joe Ajaero, the leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has highlighted the lack of a coherent roadmap for Nigeria's electricity sector, which he argues is a significant factor in the country's ongoing electricity crisis. During a television interview, Ajaero stated that the current system's design is flawed, resulting in a generation capacity that hovers around 4,000 megawatts, which is insufficient.

He criticized the 2013 privatization of the power sector, claiming it transferred public assets to private investors without improving infrastructure or service delivery. Ajaero emphasized the need for a merger of the gas and power ministries to eliminate policy conflicts and ensure adequate gas allocation for electricity generation.

He also pointed out the reliance on gas-fired generation as a vulnerability in Nigeria's power mix and criticized the slow development of alternative energy sources like hydro and solar. Ajaero warned that without a master plan, the sector would continue to struggle, leading to increased financial burdens on the government.