President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has maintained silence in the face of escalating public outrage following a staggering 240 per cent increase in electricity tariffs.
The sharp hike has exacerbated the already dire living conditions for many Nigerians, who have long grappled with the burdensome cost of essential goods.
This tariff surge coincided with the government’s removal of subsidies and implementation of the Naira floating policies under Tinubu’s administration.
While Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, defended the move, asserting that 85 per cent of electricity consumers would not be affected and citing projected savings of N1.14 trillion in subsidies, his explanation failed to assuage public discontent.
Various prominent organizations including the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and chambers of commerce have openly criticized the tariff hike, highlighting the pervasive confusion surrounding its implementation amidst widespread economic hardship.
Following the announcement by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, eleven distribution companies initiated the new rates, but dissatisfaction among consumers quickly ensued.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, in particular, faced backlash for erroneously applying the increased tariffs to certain customer categories, prompting a hefty fine from NERC and orders for refunds.
Despite these actions, concerns persist among Nigerians that all 12 million electricity consumers could bear the brunt of the new tariffs.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has urged the government to mandate metering for Band A customers within 60 days, emphasizing the importance of accurate billing.
With only a fraction of consumers metered according to NERC data, the specter of arbitrary billing looms large, exacerbating frustrations amid ongoing challenges in the power sector.
National grid collapses, transmission repairs, and gas constraints have led to erratic power supply, compounded by recent increases in gas prices.
As citizens continue to pay for unreliable service, calls for a reversal of the tariff hike have grown louder, underscoring the urgent need for meaningful intervention to address the systemic issues plaguing Nigeria’s electricity sector.
