Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Isa Aremu has expressed doubt over President Goodluck Jonathan’s assurance of realising a minimum of 18 hours electricity supply daily in 2014.

He lamented that electricity supply in the country has gone from bad to worse despite the huge sum of money pumped into the sector over the years and the recent privatisation of the sector.

Speaking at a function to mark his 53rd birthday, Aremu described the 18-hour daily power supply as a “huge joke” since the country has witnessed unacceptable power outages leading to massive closure of factories and job losses in the last 30 years.

He stressed that what Nigerians need at present is no longer vain promises but immediate uninterrupted electricity supply to propel industrialisation and eradicate poverty. He however commended the president for giving a six month ultimatum to power investors to improve power supply.

While attributing most causes of labour crisis in the country to insincerity and government’s wrong approach to reform, he called on the Federal Government to convene a National Summit on Collective Bargaining which will involve all employers of labour and labour unions in the country.

He further cautioned the Ministry of Petroleum to ensure the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill rather than plan to privatise the refineries.

A former governor of Kaduna state, who attended the event, Balarabe Musa, also doubted the seriousness of the Federal Government and the new power investors to improve electricity generation in the country because most of the new investors are political entrepreneurs who lack the expertise to manage the power sector effectively.

He alleged that the power sector has been hijacked by some cabals who are bent on frustrating government’s effort; a situation he said is beyond the president’s control.