Protests: BEDC Offices Shut in Ondo, Ebonyi

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James Sowole in Akure, and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

Solidarity songs and anti-Discos slogans this Monday rent the air at the offices of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Akure, Ondo State, and the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital, in compliance with the directives of organised labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The picketing, which took place simultaneously nationwide, was against the increase in electricity tariffs by the Distribution Companies (discos) as approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Complying with the directive, NLC/TUC leadership in Ondo State led some residents and civil society organisations to BEDC offices in Akure, Ondo State capital and ordered workers of the company out of the premises.

The protesters, who assembled at the NLC office at Alagbaka and then marched to the BEDC office behind Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), before they moved to Airways, Leo areas while majority of the protesters laid siege at the headquarters of the company at the popular NEPA area.

Armed with placards of various inscriptions, the protesters, who assembled as early as 8.00am condemned the operations of the BEDC, which they accused of exploiting the masses.

In a peaceful demonstration, the labour unionists thronged the EEDC's
office around 8a.m. at Awolowo street in Abakaliki, threatening
that they would do everything possible to resist the "obnoxious
tariff" or make the country ungovernable for the Federal government.

Chanting various songs such “solidarity forever” and “We have decided
to fight for the masses”, the workers besieged the head office of the
distribution company as early as 8am.

They were led by Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), State Chairman, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor and Trade Union Congress Chairman, Comrade Elias Oduma.

Their presence forced the staff to lock up the offices and stop
collection of electricity bills under tight security presence.

Naira remains stable at N310 to dollar at parallel market

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/naira-remains-stable-at-n310-to-dollar-at-parallel-market/