NLC Criticizes Plan to Spend N20b on Emergency Repairs at TCN 

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has deplored plan to spend nearly N20 billion on the emergency refurbishment of the facilities of the Transmission Company of Nigeria. 

The labour movement described the move as a systematically disemboweling of the strategic national asset. 

A letter addressed to the Minister of Power, and signed by NLC president Joe Ajaero the Labour centre called for immediately halt on “all ongoing “emergency” procurement processes in TCN pending a full forensic audit.

It also urged the anti-graft agencies Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate the head of Procurement and other Management team of TCN and to beam their searchlights on each of the items on the list.

NLC alleged that under the guise of “emergency refurbishment,” there are plans to award contracts which will amount to double-dipping of the highest order, designed to convert public funds into private fortunes for merely signing papers.

It said: “The plan to spend nearly N20 billion from TCN coffers on the so-called emergency refurbishment looks more like a contrivance to fleece a company that is already saddled with fiscal challenges

We write to you with the grave concern of a labour movement watching a strategic national asset being systematically disemboweled. 

“We are writing to alert your Ministry of an imminent, large-scale heist being orchestrated within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) by a group of officials who have seemingly abandoned their oath of service in favor of a gluttonous rush to cash out and cause the company to collapse.

“Honourable Minister, we demand your immediate intervention to truncate this quest”.

For instance, NLC said there is no other way to explain the plan to spend N191million to control erosion on one tower – T89 Ihovbor, Okada; N290,654,361 only for fence and drainage at the Biu 132/33KV Sub-Station; N226,024,556 of just one Tower T27 at Etsako, Okpella Ajaokuta and N239,498,443.75 etc, but that they are all very questionable negating the principles of fiscal discipline. 

“It is apparent that there are plans to purchase the same item; specifically, specialized transformers and switchgears; in multiple batches from the same supplier at escalating costs. 

“This is not procurement; this is money laundering disguised as grid expansion. There is a scheme to over-stock consumables (insulators, conductors, clamps) at far above market value under the guise of preparing for grid collapses. 

“These are items that will either be stored and left to rot, or simply never delivered, with the proceeds shared among the procurement committee and the “vendors.”

“Honourable Minister, this is a clear and present danger. The cabal within TCN is hoping to use the cover of “emergency” to bypass due process and bury these crimes in a blizzard of paperwork. If these procurements proceed, TCN will not only be poorer, but its operational capacity will be crippled for a decade. 

“The grid will become a permanent patient in the emergency room, not because we lack the technology, but because the funds meant to heal it were stolen.

 “We insist that you: Immediately halt all ongoing “emergency” procurement processes in TCN pending a full forensic audit. Invite the anti-graft agencies (EFCC/ICPC) to beam their searchlights on each item, Investigate the head of Procurement and other Management team of TCN if they are found to be the architects of this looting spree. Investigate the sale of Lands behind TCN substation at Katampe, Abuja.

“Investigate the attempt to move a staff who was employed in September16th 2021 to become Assistant General manager in 2026 against established employment rules in TCN.

“We await your urgent response and action. The patience of Nigerian workers is not an unlimited resource and we believe that a stitch in time saves nine. Let us work together to save TCN before it is bled to death,” it said.