The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate resignation of Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, citing repeated national grid collapses and what it describes as a lack of effective leadership in the electricity sector.

In a statement issued by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the union expressed alarm at the deteriorating state of power supply in Nigeria, warning that the sector is edging closer to complete collapse.

Ajaero criticized the minister’s recent comments suggesting that frequent grid failures were unavoidable, calling them an admission of incompetence.

“If the Ministry of Power were led by capable officials, these embarrassing grid collapses could have been avoided,” Ajaero stated. “Instead, we are faced with remarks that normalize failure, as though this is the standard Nigerians should accept. This demonstrates an inability to lead, and it is only honorable for the minister to resign.”

Ajaero noted that the frequency of grid failures under the current administration far exceeds that of previous regimes combined.

He accused the ministry of prioritizing trivial initiatives, such as a proposed ₦8 billion budget allocation for educating Nigerians on electricity bill payments, while neglecting critical infrastructure.

He further pointed out that contractors working for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are owed over ₦200 billion, a financial backlog that has hindered progress in strengthening the power grid.

“While the minister is seeking ₦8 billion for public sensitization, TCN contractors, who are crucial to delivering capacity, remain unpaid,” Ajaero added.

The union also criticized the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for its alleged failure to fulfill its regulatory duties.

Ajaero accused the commission of colluding with electricity distribution companies to suppress whistleblowers and condone unethical practices, undermining transparency and efficiency in the sector.

“It is disgraceful that an agency tasked with protecting consumers and ensuring accountability would act against a whistleblower instead of rewarding and safeguarding them,” he said, describing such actions as a betrayal of public trust.

The NLC warned that it would continue to monitor developments in the sector and cautioned against using the national budget to fund wasteful projects.

The union called on the federal government to urgently revamp the power sector to prevent further deterioration, emphasizing that failure to act decisively would deepen public distrust in governance.

“Our stance is unwavering: incompetence must not go unchallenged, and those responsible must face accountability,” Ajaero said.