Members of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), has been directed by its National body to picket offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), on Monday (today).
NLC disclosed that its members have also been told to picket electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), across Nigeria.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the directive followed a meeting of the Central Working Committee, CWC, on April 30, 2024.
A statement signed by NLC Acting Secretary-General, Chris Uyot, said: “The nationwide picketing is slated for Monday, 13 May, 2024.”
Read Also: NLC, CBN Clash Over Cybersecurity Levy
The organised labour had written a protest letter to NERC headquarters in which it gave a 12 May 2024 ultimatum within which NERC should reverse the hike of electricity tariff or face mass action.
The unions cited the hard condition that NERC action is going to push the masses into as a reason for the call for reversal.
They stated that the announced tariff hike not only defies the established procedure mandated by law but also tramples upon the rights of Nigerian citizens.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria to suspend the implementation of the controversial cybersecurity levy policy and ordered a review.
This followed the decision of the House of Representatives, which, last Thursday, asked the CBN to withdraw its circular directing all banks to commence charging a 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy on all electronic transactions in the country.
The CBN on May 6, 2024, issued a circular mandating all banks, mobile money operators, and payment service providers to implement a new cybersecurity levy, following the provisions laid out in the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act 2024.
According to the Act, a levy amounting to 0.5 per cent of the value of all electronic transactions will be collected and remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund, overseen by the Office of the National Security Adviser.