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.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Members of opposition parties in the House of Representatives have asked the Federal Government to reverse the recent ∪ electricity hike by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The NERC on Wednesday recently announced a 300 per cent tariff increment for Band A consumers, thereby giving approval to distribution companies to raise electricity prices from N68 to N225 per kilowatt-hour, with effect from April 1, 2024.
Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, April 5, 2024, described the hike as “inhuman and evil.”
He stated, “We urge Mr President, Bola Tinubu to prevail on the electricity regulator, NERC, to rescind this decision and prioritise 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.”
He further said “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 further read, “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.”
He also noted that in other climes, 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.”