Reported By Mary Udezue | Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has escalated its public criticism of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), accusing senior officials of orchestrating an alleged ₦20 billion “emergency” contract scam that, according to the union, threatens to further destabilise the country’s already fragile electricity infrastructure. In a detailed petition to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, the labour movement described what it called a “large‑scale heist” masked as urgent infrastructure work, raising serious questions about procurement integrity, fiscal discipline and governance within one of Nigeria’s most critical public utilities.
The NLC’s letter, dated March 1, 2026 and signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, alleges that a cabal of officials within TCN is pushing a series of “emergency refurbishment” contracts that appear to bypass statutory procurement processes and inflate costs for routine maintenance and supply of equipment. According to the union, the scheme risks diverting funds from necessary grid expansion and repair, while enriching insiders at the expense of the company and, ultimately, electricity consumers.
In the petition, Ajaero warned that without urgent intervention by the federal government, the alleged contracts could cripple TCN’s operational capacity and weaken Nigeria’s national grid. “We write with grave concern as a labour movement watching a strategic national asset being systematically disembowelled”, he wrote, framing the issue as both a governance crisis and a threat to national development.
Allegations and Specific Contract Concerns
The NLC highlighted several specific contract items that it believes demonstrate the questionable nature of the procurement process. Among them were proposals to spend:
₦191 million to control erosion on a single transmission tower — designated T89 — near Ihovbor in Edo State.
₦290.6 million for fencing and drainage works at the Biu 132/33 kV substation in Borno State.
₦226 million on refurbishment of a single tower on the Etsako–Okpella–Ajaokuta line.
₦239.5 million on related works.
The union characterised these figures as “highly questionable and inconsistent with fiscal discipline”, asserting that they resemble double‑dipping — where funds are paid out without corresponding value delivered — rather than necessary emergency repairs.
Beyond these line items, the NLC expressed concern that TCN planners were seeking to purchase identical equipment such as specialised transformers and switchgear in multiple batches from the same supplier at escalating costs, a practice the union said could signal collusion or profiteering. It also said there were plans to overstock consumables like insulators, conductors and clamps at prices far above prevailing market rates, warning that these materials might never be used and could simply be warehoused or left to deteriorate.
“This is not procurement; it resembles money laundering disguised as grid expansion,” the letter stated, underlining the depth of the union’s mistrust of the internal process.
Calls for Action and Wider Allegations
In addition to urging an immediate halt to all ongoing “emergency” procurement within TCN, the NLC demanded a comprehensive forensic audit of all questioned contracts and called on Nigeria’s leading anti‑corruption agencies — the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) — to investigate any procurement irregularity and scrutinise the roles of procurement officials implicated in the alleged scheme.
The petition also touched on other alleged governance issues within TCN, including an alleged irregular promotion of a staff member purportedly being fast‑tracked to the role of Assistant General Manager despite not meeting established criteria, and what the union described as the questionable sale of land behind the TCN substation in Katampe, Abuja.
“The patience of Nigerian workers is not an unlimited resource,” the NLC warned, making clear that the labour movement could escalate its response if its concerns were not addressed and transparent corrective action taken.
Sector Context and Broader Challenges
TCN plays a central role in Nigeria’s power sector as the entity responsible for transmitting electricity from generation companies to distribution firms across the country. The company has in recent years faced systemic challenges including ageing infrastructure, frequent grid collapses and disputes over funding and operations. Critics have pointed to ongoing structural problems in the sector that go beyond any single procurement controversy, with stakeholders calling for far‑reaching reforms to modernise the grid and improve oversight.
Last week, the Federal Government inaugurated an inter‑ministerial committee to oversee the establishment of the Grid Asset Management Company Limited (GAMCO), part of broader efforts to improve grid management and address long‑standing inefficiencies. Observers have described this as an important step toward structural transformation of Nigeria’s electricity transmission framework, though its effectiveness will depend on strong oversight and accountability measures.
As of this writing, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Ministry of Power, and Nigeria’s anti‑corruption agencies have not issued public responses to the NLC’s allegations. It remains unclear whether investigations have begun, whether contracts have been paused, or whether a forensic audit will proceed as demanded by the labour union.
It should be noted that some analysts say the situation presents significant reputational risk for Nigeria’s power sector, which is already under intense public scrutiny due to frequent power outages and investor concerns about governance and financial sustainability. Civil society groups and industry stakeholders are now closely watching for official responses and potential legal or regulatory action.
Supporters of the NLC argue that strict oversight and radical transparency are essential for restoring faith in the management of public utilities and ensuring that funds earmarked for critical infrastructure genuinely deliver value. Skeptics, including some sector analysts, caution that while allegations should be taken seriously, due process must be followed to determine fact from suspicion without prematurely assigning blame.
With Nigeria’s economic performance tied closely to reliable power provision, any disruption or mismanagement within TCN — whether real or perceived — is likely to attract heightened attention from government, labour, investors and the general public in the weeks ahead.
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