The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has proposed merging the Ministries of Petroleum and Power into a single Ministry of Energy to address Nigeria’s chronic power shortages.

The union also rejected the federal government’s planned N6 trillion bailout to electricity generation and distribution companies, saying public funds should not subsidize failing private firms.

NLC President Joe Ajaero explained that the bailout would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause of Nigeria’s power sector crisis.

He pointed to the failed privatization of the sector as evidence that the current system is ineffective and in need of structural overhaul.

The proposed merger, according to Ajaero, would allow the state to coordinate investments in generation, transmission, and distribution, improving efficiency and access for citizens.

The NLC believes that a unified Ministry of Energy could mobilize public finance for sustainable energy development, similar to models used in countries with reliable power systems.