NLC Condemns Increase in Electricity Tariff

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it has completely rejected and condemned any plan to inflict further pain on Nigerians at this very time of great economic distress.

This was disclosed in a statement released by the congress, entitled: “Increase in electricity tariff by Abuja DisCo – a taunting of the will of Nigerian people gone too far,” signed by Ayuba Wabba, Chairman, NLC.

It would be recalled that a few months ago, the National Assembly suspended tariff hike scheduled for July 1 by the DisCos to the first quarter of 2021 due to the current economic challenges in Nigeria.

Therefore, it was surprising that on Monday Sept. 1, 2020, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) went ahead with the implementation.

In a displeased tone, the NLC said the new plan was “dead on arrival as it will be resisted by the Nigerian working class and people.”

“We wish to state that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) seriously frowns at, completely condemns, and totally rejects any plan to inflict further pain on Nigerians at this very time of great economic distress. The new dribble by the Abuja DisCo is dead on arrival as it will be resisted by the Nigerian working class and people. The other DISCOs should not bother putting their ships of exploitation to sail,” the union stated.

The labour congress stated that DISCOs agenda to further impoverish Nigerians through an increase in tariff has been deregulated.

“It appears that the adamant desire of DISCOs in Nigeria to ram through their ill-conceived agenda to further impoverish Nigerians through astronomical tariff increase amidst a plummeting return on service delivery has now been deregulated. The DISCOs appear to have given themselves the ignoble tasks of taking turns to taunt the will of the Nigerian people.

“Abuja DISCO has adorned the robe of the protagonist in this regard with its announcement of a new tariff plan for electricity consumers within its service area starting from September 1, 2020,” it stated

NLC stated that there was no order from the Federal Government to de-freeze the July suspension.

“This move is in spite of the resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and even the direct orders of Mr. President that the plans by DISCOs to hike electricity tariff should be suspended until further notice. We are not aware of any order by the government or the elected representatives of the Nigerian people de-freezing the order to suspend any plans to inflict more pocket and psychological trauma on Nigerians by way of reckless and insensitive hike in electricity tariff.”

The congress said that since the unbundling of the former PHCN to yield DISCOS and GENCOs, electricity tariffs through the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) there have been increased a number of times without improvement in services.

It said “It is unfortunate that since the unbundling of the former PHCN to yield DISCOS and GENCOs, electricity tariffs through the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) have been increased a number of times without accompanying improvement in services. Each hike in electricity tariff in Nigeria is trailed by huge leap in hours of darkness, de-metering of more Nigerians, exponential rise in incidences of estimated billing, and increased burden on citizens for the procurement of equipment and facilities for public electricity supply amidst other devious methods by DISCOs to cheat, exploit and despoil poor Nigerians.”

The NLC added that it “is also deeply concerned on the deaf and dumb posture of the state electricity regulators – the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). It is important to put on record the fact that NERC would be putting its name on the wrong side of history if it continues to play the Ostrich while a group of portfolio investors make a bloodmeal of Nigerians. Nigerian electricity consumers need the NERC to speak up and act now in defense of the rights of the Nigerian people. A word is indeed enough for the wise.“