Banding of electricity consumers highest level of 419 — NLC

Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has faulted the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, over the categorisation of electricity consumers into different bands.

He described the service-based tariff, as “discriminatory and the highest level of 419”—a term used in referencing fraud.

Recall that during the 2025 budget defence session at the National Assembly, the Minister of power claimed that 90 percent of electricity users in Band A have confirmed that they are getting the benefit of being in Band A.

He also said that more customers would be migrated to Band A to enjoy electricity for longer hours.

But while speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Mr. Ajaero questioned the idea of migrating customers from one band to another.

“Now the ministry is talking about migrating from Band B to Band A, that is the highest level of 419 one can think of,” Mr Ajaero said on the program.

“The local parlance 419 has become notorious for the description of fraudulent activities. Who is in Band A and who is in Band B? Is it based on geographical area that you have Band A or Band B, or is it based on the dictates of the provider?

“In countries of the world that are targeting 24-hour power supply, why would somebody be talking about Band A or Band B? How would it happen? So, that idea is concocted to make money unnecessarily and say people are migrated.”

“What are the conditions to be on Band A? What are the conditions to be on Band Be? Why would you discriminate? Why would you give me Band B and give somebody Band A? So, these are the issues.”

According to the new policy, Band A customers are those who enjoy electricity supply for 20 hours per day, Band B a minimum of 16 hours, Band C get a minimum of 12-hour power supply, Band D a minimum of 8 hours, and Band E a minimum of four hours.

The labour leader also faulted the federal government for making provisions for power distribution companies, which are supposedly private companies, in the 2025 budget.