The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised alarm over what it called an alleged plan to siphon nearly N20 billion from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) through questionable “emergency refurbishment” contracts.

The Labour Centre warned that the move could cripple Nigeria’s power transmission infrastructure.

In a letter, dated March 1 and addressed to the Minister of Power, NLC President Joe Ajaero accused some TCN officials of orchestrating what he called a “large-scale heist” under the cover of urgent procurement.

The NLC president said the alleged scheme involves inflated contracts, duplicate procurement of equipment and the overstocking of consumables at prices far above market value.

The letter reads: “We write to you with grave concern about a labour movement watching a strategic national asset being systematically disemboweled.

“A group of officials have seemingly abandoned their oath of service in favour of a gluttonous rush to cash out and cause the company to collapse.”

According to the NLC, the proposed emergency refurbishment projects include several contracts running into hundreds of millions of naira for what it called routine infrastructure work.

Among the examples cited is a proposed N191 million project to control erosion on transmission tower T89 in Ihovbor near Okada in Edo State, as well as N290.6 million for fencing and drainage at the Biu (Borno State) 132/33KV substation.

The union also pointed to another N226 million earmarked for work on a single tower at Etsako–Okpella–Ajaokuta in Kogi and Edo states and N239.5 million for related interventions.

The union described the figures as “highly questionable and inconsistent with fiscal discipline”.

It also alleged that some people were planning to procure specialised transformers and switchgears in multiple batches from the same supplier at progressively higher prices.

The NLC warned that excessive procurement of consumables, such as insulators, conductors, and clamps, could lead to waste and possible diversion of public funds.

It said: “This is not procurement; this is money laundering disguised as grid expansion.

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

The labour body urged the Minister of Power to immediately halt all ongoing emergency procurement processes within TCN pending a comprehensive forensic audit.

It also urged anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate the contracts and scrutinise officials involved in the procurement process.

Besides, the union demanded investigations into the alleged sale of land behind a TCN substation in Katampe, Abuja, as well as what it said was an irregular promotion plan involving a staff member hired in September 2021 and allegedly being considered for appointment as Assistant General Manager in 2026.

“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,” Ajaero warned.

The NLC president said urgent action by the Federal Government was necessary to prevent what it described as the “bleeding” of TCN and safeguard the stability of Nigeria’s electricity transmission network.

Source: The Nation News