The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has denounced the recent surge in electricity rates nationwide, branding the move by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as callous, heartless, and malevolent.
Kingsley Chinda, the caucus leader, underscored in a statement issued from Abuja on Friday that the sudden escalation, adding to the already heavy burden on the populace, exacerbates economic challenges and deepens the divide of inequality, an inexcusable circumstance that cannot be ignored.
He pointed out that the considerable rise, exceeding two hundred percent beyond the inflation rate, shows a blatant disregard for the difficulties experienced by ordinary citizens, who are grappling with the consequences of the elimination of oil subsidies, rampant inflation, unemployment, and inadequate access to basic necessities.
“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 minimum of twenty hours of electricity a day. The truth has become stark that this is stark lie. The hike, according to data put out by the DISCOS, affects all electricity consumers. This habitual resort to deceit and outright lies clearly puts government in 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.
“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 40 billion pounds ($50 billion) in energy subsidies since it began to help households and businesses cope with the surge in power bills after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
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“According to the global news agency Reuters, between the launch of the schemes in October 2022 and March 2023, nearly 21 billion pounds was spent on the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) programme that supports households with their bills, the government said.
“A further 12 billion pounds was paid under the Energy Bills Support Scheme, which offered homes payments of 400 pounds towards their bills over the winter months. Businesses and other organisations received about 5.5 billion pounds under the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, and almost 1 billion pounds was spent on other programmes”.
“Also, in the United States, the government is subsidising (by way of tax credit) thirty percent off the cost of chargers for electric vehicles.
“Not here in Nigeria, where the government spends money on frivolities with no real economic impacts on households or on the lives of ordinary citizens. Here, the directive principle of state policy is ‘go and die.’
“We urge Mr President Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the electricity regulator, NERC, to rescind this decision and prioritize the welfare of the people.
He also highlighted the significance of open dialogue and inclusive decision-making procedures in tackling the root causes of inefficiencies within the energy sector and in implementing long-lasting solutions that cater to the interests of all stakeholders, instead of perpetuating a pattern of consistent and unending tariff hikes.
He also stressed the need for enhanced accountability and transparency in resource management within the electricity sector, asserting that citizens have the right to insist on efficient service provision and equitable pricing models that align with their economic realities.
“In solidarity with the Nigerian people, we stand firm in our condemnation of this unjustifiable increase in electricity tariffs and call for immediate action to alleviate the burdens imposed on the populace.