Members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have accused the Minister of Power and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of prioritising hike tariffs over service delivery.
NUEE made the allegation in a petition signed by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, among others, and addressed to the Minister.
The NUEE said, “The Minister’s assertion that a tariff increase is necessary to boost liquidity in the power sector has sparked controversy, especially considering the existing challenges in the sector.
“The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), as a critical stakeholder in the Power Industry, cannot sit on the fence without stating our stance and proffering the best solution to this issue.
“The justification given by NERC for the electricity hike in 2024 is that the hike is attributed to only Band A consumers, who make up only 15 per cent of electricity consumers and utilize 40 per cent of the nation’s electricity consumption. Consequently, it would not affect the general public.
“We asked some salient questions in our publication of April 14th 2024: Who are the Band A consumers? What do they do? Who are the customers of the Band A consumers? Who bears the brunt of the electricity hike?
“The general public is the one that will be most affected by this. They are the customers and end-users of the Band A products and services. The additional costs will be transferred to the common man, so they are indirectly being exploited, notwithstanding their dwindling purchasing power and increasing impoverishment.
“Rather than prioritizing a tariff review, should not the Minister focus on improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the power sector? The sector’s financial woes, including a shortfall of N1.6 trillion in wholesale tariffs, are undeniable. However, passing on the costs to already burdened consumers may not be the most effective solution.
“It is appalling that the Minister appears more interested in increasing the poverty level rather than alleviating the suffering of the masses because this move by the Minister is geared towards generalizing the electricity tariff at an astronomical amount.
“Nigerians deserve a reliable, efficient and affordable electricity supply system that supports economic growth, improves quality of life, and enhances overall well-being. Instead of a tariff increase, the Minister should prioritize measures to increase power generation, improve transmission infrastructure, and ensure affordable tariffs for consumers.
“The power sector has been privatized for over 12 years, and the government has not deemed it fit to review the privatization of the electricity sector, which has failed. The contemplated increase in electricity tariff should be commensurate with the services rendered. Nigerians should not be paying for darkness.
“The Minister of Power must reconsider his priorities and work towards finding solutions that benefit all Nigerians, rather than placing an undue burden on them.”
