NLC petitions power minister over alleged N20 billion fraud in TCN

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has alleged a plan to divert about N20 billion within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), warning that the development could seriously undermine the nation’s power transmission system if urgent intervention is not taken.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Power and signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the labour union accused certain officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria of allegedly attempting to siphon public funds through questionable procurement arrangements presented as emergency refurbishment projects.

According to the NLC, the alleged scheme involves the award of highly inflated contracts under the pretext of urgent interventions on transmission infrastructure.

Ajaero said the union was worried that the alleged financial misconduct could weaken the operational capacity of a critical national asset responsible for electricity transmission across the country.

In a report by The Sun newspaper, Ajero cited several projects the union described as suspicious, including a proposed N191 million project to address erosion around transmission tower T89 Ihovbor in Okada. The NLC also questioned a N290.6 million proposal for fencing and drainage works at the Biu 132/33KV substation.

The labour body further alleged that about N226 million had been earmarked for work on transmission tower T27 at Etsako in Okpella–Ajaokuta axis, while another N239.4 million project had also been proposed under similar emergency arrangements.

Beyond the projects, the NLC claimed there were plans to procure specialised transformers and switchgears in multiple batches from the same supplier at progressively higher costs, a move the union described as suspicious.

The congress warned that allowing the procurement plans to proceed without scrutiny could expose the transmission company to severe financial and operational risks.