FG through NERC plans to extend electricity tariff hike beyond Bond A consumers – Falana
NERC had on April 3, 2024 raised electricity tariff for customers enjoying 20 hours power supply daily. Customers in this category are said to be under the Band A classification.
The increase would see the customers paying N225 kilowatt per hour from the current N66, a development that has been heavily criticised by many Nigerians, especially with the current hardship in the land.
The Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu subsequently said that the new electricity tariff hike would only affect only 1.5 million of the about 12 million consumers in the sector.
Falana, however declared electricity subsidy as non-existent, and alleged that the government is trying to raise funds for cash-strapped electricity distribution companies (DisCos).
Falana said, “under that law, there are certain steps to take and we are going to embark on those steps tomorrow (Monday) which is to raise serious objections with respect to the impunity that has characterised the recent increase.
“So, the poor people that he (the minister) is talking about, the other bands, very soon, the government is going to extend the increases to them so that the N1.4trn the minister is talking about will be recovered.
“They (the government) are increasing tariff to assist the cash-strapped discos majority of which have now been taken over by the banks and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), and the banks and AMCON have no competence to run electricity companies.”
Falana condemned the government for being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians who were still grappling with the economical impact of petrol subsidy removal and the collapse of the foreign exchange windows, the two policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration which have resulted in unprecendented high cost of living.
