The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised the alarm over what it described as 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, 2026 and addressed to the Minister of Power, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, accused some officials within TCN of orchestrating what he called a “large-scale heist” under the cover of urgent procurement.
The labour body said the alleged scheme involves inflated contracts, duplicate procurement of equipment and the overstocking of consumables at prices far above market value.
The letter said in part: “We write to you with grave concern of 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 described as 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, describing the figures as “highly questionable and inconsistent with fiscal discipline.”
The labour centre further alleged that there are plans 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.
The union 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 called on 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.
In addition, the union demanded investigations into the alleged sale of land behind a TCN substation in Katampe, Abuja, as well as what it described as an irregular promotion plan involving a staff member hired in September 2021 who is 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 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.