NLC Rejects APGC’s Six Trillion Naira Demand

By Chinedu Echianu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly rejected the claims by the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) following their February 17, 2026 statement, describing the group’s demand for N6 trillion as a “clandestine heist” targeting public funds.

In a press release issued on Thursday, NLC President Joe Ajaero criticizes APGC for questioning the union’s understanding of the power sector, calling their narrative “self-serving” and “misleading.”

“The privatisation of the power sector was, and remains, a grand deception and a well-orchestrated robbery of the Nigerian people,” the statement reads.

NLC pointed out that power assets were sold for around N400 billion, yet the APGC now demands N6 trillion, with the Federal Government reportedly considering a N3 trillion bailout.

“Can a man sell his house for 400 billion and then demand 3 trillion because the buyer mismanaged it? This is not economics; this is plunder,” NLC said, adding that the scheme would divert public wealth belonging to workers, pensioners, and citizens to a few speculators.

The labour union also took aim at APGC’s claims of victimisation and incompetence, emphasizing that NLC has been actively involved in the sector through its affiliate, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE).

NLC stressed that its leadership participated in campaigns against privatisation and includes experts in energy law.

Addressing APGC’s outrage over the union’s use of the term “settle the boys,” NLC clarified that it refers to those cornering public resources while Nigerians suffer.

The union has called on APGC to publicly disclose the beneficial owners of all power assets to ensure transparency.

NLC further questioned APGC’s performance, noting that electricity generation has remained stagnant at 4,000–5,000 megawatts—similar to pre-privatisation levels—and accused GENCOs of failing to meet their objectives of improving generation, transmission, and distribution.

Highlighting the human cost, NLC accused GENCOs of denying workers their statutory rights, impounding pre-privatisation housing units, and failing to pay dividends owed to the federal government and workers under the Privatisation Act.

“The NLC remains insistent that the state must return as the primary driver of the power sector.

Electricity is a social service, not a commodity to be auctioned to the highest bidder,” the union concluded, rejecting the N6 trillion demand, the proposed N3 trillion bailout, and the privatisation model itself.