NAUS Mobilises Protests, Demands Sack of TCN and NERC Leaders
Nigerian students, led by the National Association of University Students (NAUS), have announced a nationwide protest scheduled to begin on Friday, November 1, 2024, to demand the dismissal of top officials at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The protest, expected to span multiple states, has been organised following a joint assembly held in Abuja, where student leaders criticised the prolonged power outages that continue to disrupt academic life and daily activities across the country.
“It is unacceptable that millions of Nigerians, particularly students, continue to suffer due to the incompetence of these officials, whose leadership has become synonymous with failure,” the statement sent to Neusroom reads in part.
The grievances center on the perceived incompetence of Engr. Dr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, Managing Director of TCN, and Engr. Sanusi Garba, Chairman of NERC. According to Comrade Meshach Anthony Nwankwo, Deputy National President for National and Campus Affairs of NAUS, the protest seeks immediate action from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to replace these officials, citing repeated failures to stabilize the national grid and provide reliable electricity.
“The persistent power outages have severely disrupted academic schedules and diminished the quality of education. Reports indicate that students have lost up to 30% of instructional time due to these outages,” the statement, signed by Comrade Meshach Anthony Nwankwo, stated.
It continued, “It is imperative that President Tinubu acknowledges the detrimental impact of Engr. Dr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz and Engr. Sanusi Garba’s continued leadership, as they have failed to meet the performance standards expected of them.”
This year alone, the national grid has collapsed seven times, with three of the collapses occurring between October 15 and October 20. In addition to the frequent grid collapses, several northern states have been in complete darkness for more than two weeks.
According to the student body, the inefficiency of TCN and NERC leaders can no longer be tolerated.
“This nationwide protest will serve as a powerful platform for students to express their frustrations and demand competent leadership capable of ensuring a stable electricity supply,” it said.
It added, “We urge all students, civil society organizations, and the general populace to join us in this crucial demonstration. It is time for President Tinubu to take decisive action in appointing new leadership that can restore public confidence in the power sector.”
