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Just In: Nigerian Senate Orders NERC To Suspend Electricity Tarrif Hike
Today, the 8th Senate directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately suspend the February 1st, 2016 tariff hikes, which are estimated to be upwards of 40 per cent.
According to Senate President Bukola Saraki, “This move is necessary because any increase in cost, without the necessary improvement in service delivery by the power companies is unacceptable.”
The President of the senate added, “Furthermore, the power distribution companies must work to ensure that every establishment in Nigeria is provided with capabilities for metered billing. ”
“Doing this would end the sharp practice of arbitrary billing, which estimates the power consumption of Nigerians in the generation of their monthly bills.” says Saraki in a statement issued via his facebook post…
The Nigerian Labour Congress had last week stormed the Nigerian National assembly led by President Ayuba Wabba rejecting increased tarrif that took effect February 1st 2016.
Wabba said that NLC, TUC and Civil Society groups were united in demanding the reversal of the tariff increase.
He said that due process was not followed in consonance with section 76 of the Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, adding that there had been no significant improvement in the service delivery.
“Most consumers are not metered in accordance with the signed privatisation Memorandum of Understanding of November 2013 that stipulated 18 months gestation period to meter all consumers.
“The increment also at this time negates the present biting and prevailing economic recession and further will impoverish the poor masses and place an additional burden on them.
“It will also have a telling effect on business, especially on manufacturing and small-scale enterprises whose cost is heavily affected by energy cost.
“We demand that the prepaid meters should be made available for free to all consumers,” Wabba said, adding that two weeks grace would be given to NASS summon Nigeria Electricity regulatory commission (NERC) Executive Chairman with a view to resolving the contending issue.
