Labour leader Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has criticized the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, over the electricity band system and the proposed migration of customers between bands.

Ajaero condemned the service-based tariff system, which categorizes electricity users into bands—Band A for 20 hours of electricity per day, Band B for 16 hours, Band C for 12 hours, Band D for 8 hours, and Band E for 4 hours—based on services provided by distribution companies. He labeled the system discriminatory and referred to it as the “highest level of 419,” a Nigerian slang for fraud.

During a budget defense session at the National Assembly, Adelabu claimed that 90% of users in Band A benefit from extended electricity hours and announced plans to migrate more customers to Band A. In response, Ajaero, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, questioned the rationale for the migration and the conditions for placing customers in specific bands.

“In a world moving towards 24-hour power supply, why should anyone be talking about Band A or Band B? It’s an unnecessary scheme designed to exploit customers,” Ajaero argued.

He also criticized the Federal Government for allocating funds to improve power distribution companies in the 2025 budget, stating that these private companies should finance their operations independently rather than relying on public funds.

This debate highlights ongoing concerns about transparency, fairness, and accountability in Nigeria's power sector.