Reps. minority caucus: The increase in electricity tariffs is inhumane and evil

The Nigerian electricity Regulatory Commission should revoke the recent nationwide increase in electricity rates, according to a request made by the House of Representatives Minority Caucus to the Federal Government.

A 300 percent tariff increase for Band A customers was recently approved by the NERC, enabling power distribution firms to increase the cost of electricity for city dwellers from N68 to N225 per kilowatt-hour starting on April 1, 2024.

The Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, called the hike “inhuman and evil” in a statement released on Friday in Abuja.

Part of the statement said, “we urge Mr President, Bola Tinubu to prevail on the electricity regulator, NERC, to rescind this decision and prioritize the welfare of the people.

Transparent dialogue and inclusive decision-making processes are imperative to address the root causes of the energy sector’s inefficiencies and ensure sustainable solutions that benefit all stakeholders and not consistent and persistent increase in tariff.

“We call for increased accountability and transparency in the management of resources within the electricity sector. Citizens have the right to demand efficient service delivery and fair pricing mechanisms that align with their economic realities.”

The caucus also said that “The hike which is over 200 per cent above the rate of inflation, utterly disregards the plight of ordinary citizens, who are grappling with the adverse effects of the removal of oil subsidy, galloping inflation, unemployment, and inadequate access to basic amenities.”

The statement continued, “We note that in the immediate aftermath of the announcement of the tariff hike, NERC claimed that the hike affects only twelve per cent of electricity consumers who enjoy a minimum of 20 hours of electricity a day. The truth has become stark that this is a stark lie.

“The hike, from data put out by the DISCOS, affects all electricity consumers. This habitual resort to deceit and outright lies clearly puts the government in a bad light and erodes the trust and confidence of the populace in the government.

“The timing of this tariff hike, amidst prevailing economic challenges, is not only insensitive but also detrimental to the well-being of Nigerians. It further highlights the disconnect between policymakers and the realities faced by the masses of our people.”

The minority caucus further emphasized to the highest authority that in other regions, leaders work to safeguard the rights of their constituents, noting, “elsewhere in the global north, governments are doing all they can to protect citizens against the adverse effects of the pandemic on economies.

“In the United Kingdom, for example, where anti-subsidy proselytisers preach against subsidies, His Majesty’s Government has paid almost 40bn ($50bn) in energy subsidies since it began to help households and businesses cope with the surge in power bills after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

Quoting Reuters, the caucus argued saying “Between the launch of the schemes in October 2022 and March 2023, nearly £21bn was spent on the Energy Price Guarantee programme that supports households with their bills, the government said.