According to a news report from Punch, the Nigeria Labour Congress took action on Monday by closing the gates of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Ilorin, Kwara State, in a bid to challenge the earlier imposed electricity tariff hike.

Labour union representatives, stationed at the IBEDC offices in Challenge and Baboko market areas in Ilorin from as early as 7 am, secured the premises by locking the gates, denying access to both employees and customers.

Despite some IBEDC workers lingering nearby, many were unable to enter the premises due to the actions of the labour unions.

Comrade Muritala Olayinka, the Chairman of NLC in Kwara state, stated that the shutdown was in compliance with directives from the national Secretariat of the NLC.

Olayinka affirmed that the IBEDC facilities would remain closed until receiving a contrary instruction from the NLC Secretariat in Abuja.

“The Directive from the National Secretariat of NLC said that the picketing is for today but we will get in touch with the leadership of NLC if it will continue”, he said.

Earlier, the labour unions had given the NERC, till May 12 to withdraw the recent hike in electricity tariff or face unprecedented industrial action.

The ultimatum was issued in a joint letter to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, CEO, dated May 3, 2024, and copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, the Ministers of Labour and Power and the electricity distribution companies, DisCos, among others.