Lecturers to FG: Halt privatisation of electricity sector now

The Academic Staff of Nigeria Universities (ASUU), on Tuesday in Abuja, called on the Federal Government to stop private ownership of electricity in the country.
Dr Nasir Isa, President of ASUU, who made this call at a news conference, explained that private ownership of electricity sector had jeopardised economic development and national security.
“It is obvious that the power sector epitomises the massive fraud that characterised the privatisation process.
“At the onset, there were official campaigns on how committed and experienced investors were going to inject funds to turn around the comatose power sector.
“In spite of spirited efforts by patriotic Nigerians, particularly in the labour movement, the ruling class forced the bitter pill down the throat of the helpless workers and citizens.
“Three years down the line, provision of uninterrupted electricity has remainded a mirage and the story of power sector has changed for the worse.
“Nigerians now pay higher bills for less hours of brightness than they did in 2012 or earlier”, he said.
Isa said Nigerians are being made to pay high bills for prolonged regime of darkness.
The ASUU President said the union fully supported the massive resistance by the labour movement and other patriotic Nigerians against the increase.
“Nigerians must resist the move by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and Distribution Companies (DISCOs), to hike tariffs.
“Any pricing process that fails to consider the prevailing socio-economic climate is bound to engender further hardship and worsen the living and working conditions of the mass of the people of this country.
“That is why, like other policies on privatisation, we call on the federal government to reverse itself on the idea of selling the power sector to the highest bidders.
“Their primary interest is unbridled profit motive”, he added.