The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has urged the Federal Government to enforce last Wednesday’s Federal High Court order which annulled the the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)’s 45 per cent increase in electricity tariff.
Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, Wabba advised NERC to immediately
obey the court order to reverse its tariffs ‘so as to avoid the wrath of Nigerians.’
The NLC, he warned, will not hesitate to file contempt proceedings against anyone who disobeys the order.
While describing the judgment as a victory for the labour force, trade unions, civil societies and Nigerians in general, Wabba said it portrayed hope for democracy, rule of law and the judiciary.
He said: “We collectively urge the regulatory body to immediately comply with this judgment of the court. The Presidency must prevail on the regulatory body.
“If indeed this is a democratic government that respects the rule of law, the illegal tariff hike must be reversed immediately, as we will not hesitate to bring contempt proceedings against whosoever is to comply or ensure compliance”, he said.
Justice Idris, while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by rights activist, Mr. Toluwani Yemi Adebiyi, declared that the increase was procedurally ultra vires, irrational, irregular and illegal because it was not in conformity with Section 76 of the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act(EPSRA) 2005.
