Two major trade unions have jointly called on the federal government to immediately revoke the privatisation of Nigeria’s power and water sectors, declaring the policy a failure that has harmed the nation.
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) issued the demand following a meeting in Kano.
NUEE’s North West Zonal Organising Secretary, Ayuba Barde, told journalists that workers had warned against the privatisation from the outset.
“We called attention to the flaws in this policy because we understand the sector’s needs,” he stated, noting that private investors have prioritised profits over service delivery.
“Today, Nigerians face poor supply while paying for services they don’t receive, with problems ranging from faulty billing to inadequate metering.”
Barde alleged the sectors were handed to politically connected individuals without proper valuation, leading to frequent grid collapses and exorbitant bills.
AUPCTRE’s Acting General Secretary, Lawrence Ilesanmi, added that power and water constitute essential services that should remain government-subsidised.
“By privatising these sectors, the government has abandoned its responsibility,” he said, warning that water privatisation has forced excessive borehole drilling with environmental consequences.
The unions argued Nigeria fared better when both sectors were publicly managed, urging immediate policy reversal to protect citizens’ welfare and national development. Their demand comes amid growing public frustration over erratic power supply and water shortages across the country.
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