A former Minister of Works and chieftain
of the Peoples Democratic Party, Adeseye Ogunlewe, says the nationwide
protests by workers, which grounded commercial activities in several
cities in the country, were unnecessary.
On Monday, workers under the aegis of
the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress as well as members
of civil society organisations held a nationwide protest against the 45
per cent increase in electricity tariffs, which became effect from
February 1, 2016.
Ogunlewe, however, said the All
Progressives Congress-led Federal Government should not be blamed for
the hike in the tariffs because it was ‘business and no longer a
political matter’.
According to him, the labour groups
should have given the electricity distribution companies one or two
years to perfect their plans.
The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain
said the labour groups could then protest if power distribution did not
improve after one or two years.
He said, “The ongoing protests are
meaningless and coming too early. The hike in electricity tariffs should
not be blamed on the Federal Government because it’s no longer a
political issue but a business matter.
“The sector has been privatised. Let the
discos do their job. Let us give them one or two years and if power
distribution does not improve, then they can protest.
“We had clamoured that the sector should
be privatised. That has been done. Electricity is expensive, so we need
to open room for investment. The NLC and other groups should be
patient; they should give them a period of grace.”
Ogunlewe also commended the Lagos State
Government for its recent intervention in the area of crime prevention,
noting that the government should not relax in its efforts to check
crime in the state.
He, however, urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to focus on providing more job opportunities.
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