The Nigerian Labour Congress has expressed dissatisfaction over the Federal Government's N90bn budget for power.
Federal Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC has faulted plans by the government to spend N90 billion in the energy sector this year.
It accused the government of trying to use the companies as another way of stealing tax payers' money after setting up the companies and handing it over to their cronies. It declared the budget as anti-workers and anti-masses.
“We do not see the necessary levers upon which to anchor the aspirations of ordinary Nigerians in it.” NLC said
In a statement, NLC factional President, Joe Ajaero, said: “Why would government be allocating such huge expenditure to a sector that it has almost pulled out from? Or, is the government planning new investments in new Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, and Generation Companies, GENCOs?
“If so, we hope that the intentions are not to use public funds to establish these companies, only for them to turn around and hand it over to the business arm of the ruling class. Perhaps, government is anticipating putting in more money in the already privatised entities as a fabled stabilisation measure or bail-out.
“We can summarise that this budget is anti-workers and anti-masses as we do not see the necessary levers upon which to anchor the aspirations of ordinary Nigerians in it. We do not see increasing employment in this budget, neither do we see deliberate efforts at transferring wealth to the ordinary people.”