Metro
NLC Blasts FG over Incessant Grid Collapse after Power Sector Privatisation
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has blasted the Federal government over Wednesday’s total collapse of the national electricity grid, accusing it of deliberately engineering the power sector to fail while Nigerians are forced to pay exorbitant tariffs for darkness.
In a statement signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the congress said it observed “with utter disgust—though not with surprise — the total collapse of the national electricity grid today.”
The statement continued: “This recurrent catastrophe is not an accident; it is the direct and inevitable result of a capitalist ruling class that has deliberately engineered the power sector to fail, to loot, and to keep the Nigerian people in a state of perpetual underdevelopment and exploitation. It is part of the consequences of refusing to listen to citizens and civic actors, while kowtowing to the peddlers of neoliberal policies.
“This latest collapse is a stark indictment of this administration and the entire neoliberal, pro-market charade that has defined the power sector since its so-called privatization. The government, hiding behind compromised agencies, has once again demonstrated that it has neither the political will nor the ideological clarity to deliver stable electricity to the masses.
“We state categorically that the problem is not a technical one; it is a problem of predatory power sector governance and a kwashiorkor economic model.
“The sector is crippled because it is run by a cabal of the wrong individuals—unqualified political cronies and economic buccaneers who see our national infrastructure not as a tool for development, but as a trough from which to siphon public wealth.
“How else does one explain the scandalous appointment of a former local government chairman, with no known expertise in energy economics or engineering, to the pivotal position of Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)? This is not an appointment based on competence; it is a political settlement, a reward for loyalty in a system that thrives on patronage at the expense of merit.
“It is an insult to the intelligence of every Nigerian and a clear signal that the regulatory body is designed to be a toothless bulldog—a mere rubber stamp for the profiteering of the DisCos and GenCos.
“The NLC has been made aware of a proposed N4 trillion government payment to these same failed operators. We reject this outright! To sink another kobo of public money into the pockets of these private entities is an act of economic betrayal against the Nigerian people.
“This colossal sum is not meant to ‘fix’ anything; it is a grand scheme to indemnify failure. That N4 trillion is more than enough to begin a radical, state-driven process of building a new, democratically controlled power sector from the ground up—a sector owned by the people and run for the people.
“We are trapped in a vicious cycle where a comprador bourgeoisie, in cahoots with their international finance capital allies, has structured the economy to serve foreign interests and a tiny local elite.
“The continued collapse of the grid is a direct attack on our national productivity. It kills small businesses, stifles industrialization, creates mass unemployment, and inflicts untold hardship on millions of households forced to pay exorbitant tariffs for darkness.
“The NLC, therefore, suggests that if the government is truly interested in fixing the power sector, it must first address the nature, character, and capacity of its appointees. Appointing the right individual to head NERC and replacing all key leadership in the sector with proven, experienced, and patriotic technocrats—not political jobbers—would be key to reviving it.
“Since government claims to have N4 trillion to invest in the sector, we demand that these funds be redirected towards a public-led initiative to build new generation capacity and revitalize transmission infrastructure, rather than handing them over to the DisCos and GenCos.
“Once again, we call for a comprehensive public audit of the entire power sector since the failed privatization, and for a fundamental review of the privatization model itself with a view to reviving this critical sector. This has become an urgent imperative.
“The working class and the suffering masses of Nigeria will no longer tolerate this darkness. We will no longer accept excuses for a crisis that is manifestly man-made. The fact that government continues on this path of deliberate failure demonstrates its lack of seriousness in fixing the sector.
“This is not a plea; it is a declaration of intent. The light must come on, by any means necessary,” the Labour leader declared.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in the early hours of Sunday, October 26, raided Proxy Night club at 7, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where a drug party was going on, and arrested over 100 suspects.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, while making this known, said the suspects arrested include the owner of the club, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, alias Pretty Mike, who was taken into custody for interrogation.
“Cartons of illicit substances, including Loud and laughing gas, were recovered from suspects at the party and the club’s store.
“The raid followed intelligence about the drug party. NDLEA operatives who were embedded in the party between 11 pm on Saturday, 25th October, however, disrupted the gathering at 3 am on Sunday, 26th October, in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The Cotps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, has expressed deep concern over to a viral video circulating on social media showing an altercation between some FRSC officers and a driver along Abudu, Edo State, Nigeria, on Saturday, 25th October, 2025. and has ordered an immediate investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
Corps Marshal Mohammed emphasized, in a statement made available to National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), that the Corps does not condone any form of unprofessional conduct or behavior that undermines the integrity and discipline for which the FRSC is known. He further assured members of the public that appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against any officer found culpable, in line with the Corps’ operational guidelines and public service rules.
He also appealed to the motoring public to remain calm and continue to show cooperation and respect towards FRSC personnel, who are committed to ensuring safer roads and protecting lives across the nation.
While the FRSC remains steadfast in its mission to promote road safety, maintain order, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism in service delivery, the Corps marshal will also not tolerate any form of assault or violence against its personnel from members of the public in the course of duty.
By Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
“True leadership is not the exercise of one’s own power, but the stewardship of a power that is divinely bestowed. We do not conquer by our own hand, but through a grace that guides it. I therefore pause to say thank You, God Almighty: My Source, My Owner, My Helper, and My All in all” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
In the grand theater of human endeavor—from the halls of global corporations to the quiet labs of research scientists, from the strategic command centers of nations to the intimate classrooms shaping young minds—we are conditioned to celebrate the visible. We laud the innovative strategy, the decisive action, the brilliant intellect, and the relentless work ethic. These are the pillars upon which we believe success is built.
Yet, this focus on the tangible is to admire the grand facade of a cathedral while remaining oblivious to its unseen foundation. Today, we must pause to acknowledge the bedrock upon which all human achievement truly rests: the sovereign and sufficient grace of God Almighty. It is a profound and humbling truth that cuts across every culture, sector, and stratum of society: We lead, innovate, heal, govern, and ultimately conquer, not primarily because of our own merit, but because of the divine grace that empowers our efforts and crowns them with favor.
- The Universal Law of Received Power
The principle of grace dismantles the modern myth of the “self-made” leader. In physics, no system creates its own energy; it merely transforms energy from an external source. So it is with human achievement. Our skills, our intelligence, and even our very breath are not self-generated; they are gifts bestowed.
- In Business and Innovation: A CEO may possess sharp acumen, but it is grace that orchestrates a chance meeting with a pivotal partner, sparks a moment of breakthrough innovation when logic has failed, and grants the wisdom to navigate an unforeseen market collapse. The idea that became a billion-dollar company did not emerge from a vacuum; it was a spark of insight granted to a prepared mind—a mind that itself was a gift.
- In Science and Medicine: A researcher dedicates decades to a problem, yet the final, elegant solution often appears as a flash of intuition—a “Eureka!” moment that feels less like a construction and more like a revelation. The healing of a patient, despite the most advanced protocols, often involves an inexplicable, supernatural turn toward recovery that humbles the most brilliant physicians. This is grace in the laboratory and the clinic.
- In Governance and Nation-Building: A political leader may craft a perfect policy, but its success depends on a thousand uncontrollable variables: the public’s reception, global economic tides, and the collective will of a people. When a nation avoids a crisis or emerges from disaster with renewed unity, it is not merely a political victory; it is a national testament to divine providence and restraining grace.
Our role is to diligently till the soil and sow the seeds. But the germination, the growth, and the harvest are miracles of grace. To claim otherwise is like a farmer boasting that he created the rain and the sun.
- Grace as the Antidote to Leadership’s Twin Poisons
Understanding this universal law is the most powerful strategic and psychological advantage a leader can possess. It serves as the definitive antidote to the two toxins that corrupt leadership: pride and despair.
- It Eradicates Destructive Pride: When success is internalized as a personal creation, it breeds an arrogance that isolates a leader. They begin to believe their own press, seeing subordinates as instruments and competitors as enemies. This pride inevitably leads to a fall. Conversely, the leader who sees success as a stewardship of God’s grace remains humble. They lead with a sense of awe and responsibility, knowing they are managing assets they did not create. This humility fosters collaboration, attracts loyalty, and enables course correction.
- It Prevents Paralyzing Despair: The weight of leadership can be crushing. Failure, criticism, and unforeseen crises can lead to burnout and cynicism. If a leader believes they are the sole author of success, then they must also be the sole bearer of failure. But when a leader is anchored in grace, setbacks are re-framed. They are not definitive indictments of their ability, but rather part of a larger, divine curriculum. This perspective fosters resilience, allowing a leader to get up after a fall, learn the lesson, and continue with renewed hope, trusting that the same grace that opened past doors can redeem present failures.
III. The Evidence of Grace in the Tapestry of Life
This is not abstract theology; it is observable reality. Let us trace the fingerprints of grace across the facets of our collective experience:
- The Wisdom We Claim: That moment of perfect clarity in a tense negotiation or a complex coding problem—was it not a gift that arrived precisely when needed? That was the grace of divine insight.
- The Doors That Opened: Consider the promotion that came from a departing superior you didn’t orchestrate, the investor who believed in your vision against conventional wisdom, the visa that was granted against all odds. These are not coincidences; they are the grace of divine favor.
- The Strength We Found: In our moments of profound exhaustion, grieving a loss, or facing immense pressure, did we not discover a well of fortitude we did not know we possessed? That was the grace of divine sustenance.
- The People We Encounter: The mentor who guided us, the team member whose unique talent complemented our weakness, the spouse who offered unwavering support—these individuals are not random occurrences. They are living, breathing manifestations of God’s grace in our lives.
- The Restraint We Experienced: The catastrophic mistake we were unknowingly prevented from making, the harsh word we were restrained from speaking, the disastrous partnership we were diverted from—these are evidences of a protective grace, operating silently behind the scenes.
- Cultivating a Posture of Grateful Stewardship
Therefore, the most critical leadership competency is not strategic planning or financial modeling, as vital as those are. It is the cultivation of a heart of gratitude. This is the lens that brings all of life into focus.
A leader grounded in this truth leads not as an owner, but as a steward. They understand that their organization, their nation, their talents, and their platform are on loan from a higher authority. This transforms their entire approach:
- Decision-Making: They seek wisdom beyond their own, praying for guidance and listening for the divine “nudge.”
- Resource Allocation: They manage people and capital with justice and generosity, knowing they are handling resources that belong to God.
- Legacy Building: Their goal shifts from building a personal monument to fulfilling a divine purpose, leaving a legacy that benefits humanity and glorifies the Giver.
Conclusion: The Conduit of Conquest
Let us then move forward with a renewed paradigm. Let us work with impeccable excellence, as if everything depends on us. But let us pray, trust, and give thanks, knowing that everything ultimately depends on Him.
Our skills are the conduit; His grace is the current. Our plans are the vessel; His providence is the ocean.
We are the conduits of effort, but grace is the current of conquest. To mistake the one for the other is the height of leadership folly.
The most dangerous leader is the one who believes they are the architect of their success. The wisest is the one who knows they are merely a steward, building upon a foundation laid by grace.
Our skill prepares the vessel, but only grace can fill it. Lead accordingly.
I pause to say thank You, To God Almighty—the unseen Architect of our triumphs, the silent Partner in our ventures, and the ultimate Source of every victory across every facet of life—we ascribe all wisdom, power, and glory. For it is by His grace that we are positioned, it is by His might that we persevere, and it is for His purpose that we ultimately conquer.
In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a Recipient of the Nigerian Role Models Award (2024), and a Distinguished Ambassador For World Peace (AMBP-UN). He has also gained inclusion in the prestigious compendium, “Nigeria @65: Leaders of Distinction”.
