On Tuesday, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to restore electricity supply to communities within the state. The House stated that the ultimatum aims to ensure residents have consistent power supply, which is essential for promoting business activities.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the prolonged power outage despite consumers paying high electricity bills, the Speaker warned that failure to restore power would compel the House to take decisive action. He emphasized that if AEDC fails to comply, they would be asked to leave, and competent replacements would be sought to provide reliable electricity services.

This resolution was reached after Yakubu Suleiman Umar, the General Manager of the Nasarawa Electricity Power Agency (NAePA), and Adeyemi Jonathan Kehinde, the Chief Business Officer of AEDC, appeared before the House during a plenary session chaired by the Speaker, Jatau.

Previously, the House had invited the heads of AEDC and NAePA to address issues concerning power outages and exorbitant electricity bills in the state. The Speaker highlighted the constitutional authority of the House to question individuals on public matters and expressed concern over the suffering of residents due to the lack of electricity.

During the session, Kehinde acknowledged the company’s shortcomings in replacing damaged transformers and cables for communities across the state. He revealed that out of 28,000 customers in the state, only 8,000 have been metered. He requested some time to improve the situation, emphasizing his recent appointment and commitment to enhancing power supply.

Umar, the General Manager of NAePA, affirmed the agency’s dedication to ensuring effective power supply to communities in the state, underscoring their efforts to fulfill their mandate.

Worried by the increase in electricity tariff, Civil Society Organisations under the Forum for Good Governance in Nigeria, FGGN, said it has concluded plans to embark on a protest against the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu for insisting on the electricity tariff hike despite economic hardship facing Nigerians.

In a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator and Secretary of the group, Abraham Douglas and Bala Galadima Ikara, the position of the Minister is “Insensitive.

The group advised the Minister to work on measures to restore constant power supply that will help to attract investors to establish sustainable businesses and boost the economy instead of proposing a hike in electric tariff at this critical period of the dearth of development in the country.

The statement said, “the ministers claims that if the federal government continues to pay electricity subsidy for Nigerians, investors will not come is illusionary and unacceptable.

“Adelabu has no business remaining in the critical offices he occupies for failing Nigerians he should just take the honourable path and resign, or be faced with frequent civil society mass actions because Nigerians are sick and tired of his weakness and lack of capacity to deliver on Tinubu’s campaign promise.”

The Organized Labour in Kogi State has called for the immediate implementation of a wage increase to N35,000 for workers in the state. Gabriel Amari, the Kogi State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), made this demand during his May Day address in Lokoja. He argued that the current national minimum wage of N30,000 does not adequately meet the basic needs of workers, given the current market conditions.

Amari emphasized the urgency of this wage adjustment, considering the continuous rise in the costs of goods and services, which diminishes the purchasing power of workers. He proposed that until negotiations for a new minimum wage are finalized and implemented, the wage increase would provide temporary relief to workers facing economic hardships.

Additionally, the Organized Labour in the state urged the Kogi State Government to follow the example of other states that have already implemented the President’s recommendations regarding wage increases for Nigerian workers. They stressed that this action would demonstrate the government’s commitment to the welfare of its workforce.

Furthermore, Labour highlighted specific concerns that need government attention, including the payment of weigh-in allowance for workers in media houses, the restoration of teachers’ peculiar allowance, issuance of promotion letters, and payment of outstanding salary balances. They also advocated for the full implementation of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for health workers, provision of affordable housing for workers, and support for parastatals and ministries.

Addressing Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, the NLC Chairman expressed concerns about security challenges in Kogi State. He emphasized that insecurity not only threatens stability but also affects productivity, economic growth, and job opportunities. He cited recent incidents of violence and attacks, urging the government to support community policing initiatives, enlist the help of hunters, and prioritize intelligence gathering to combat criminal activities effectively.