A powerful coalition of trade unions and civil society organisations is calling on the Nigerian government to urgently reverse privatisation in the electricity sector, as well as all existing privatisations in the water and waste sectors. The call, made at the National Public Utilities Summit in Abuja, highlights the negative impact privatisation has had on public access and service quality.
The summit’s communiqué, endorsed by key unions like AUPCTRE and NUEE alongside CSO partners, urges the government to suspend all ongoing talks with the World Bank and other international financiers on privatisation plans. Instead, they advocate for Public-Public Partnerships (PUPs) as a fairer, more democratic alternative that delivers quality services without profit motives.
They emphasize the need to reinvest in human capital, improve worker training and welfare, and foster stronger social dialogue to hold governments accountable. The coalition points to failures in privatised utilities, including rising tariffs, unequal access, corruption, and poor working conditions for staff.
With over ₦2 trillion spent bailing out power distribution companies without growth in electricity supply, unions warn that privatisation is enriching private interests at the public’s expense. They call for urgent reforms that prioritize transparency, decent work, and community well-being to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s essential public services.
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