THE Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has condemned the Federal Government’s increase in electricity tariff and urged Nigerians to reject it.
In a statement by the NEF spokesperson Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the group noted that the hike was a blatant disregard for Nigerians’ welfare.
“By implementing such exorbitant electricity tariffs, the government is effectively perpetuating a form of economic oppression that will only serve to widen the gap between the rich and the poor in Nigeria. It is imperative that this act of exploitation be firmly rejected and not be allowed to stand unchallenged,” the statement read.
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According to the NEF, the new tariff plan would result in over N5,400 daily and nearly N2 million in electricity bills alone.
“Under the new tariff plan, 24 hours of electricity per day will cost a staggering N5,400, amounting to an unbearable monthly total of N162,000 and an astounding yearly total of N1,971,000.
“These exorbitant amounts are simply unaffordable for the majority of Nigerians, who are already grappling with economic hardship and trying to make ends meet,” the group stated.
The Forum urged Nigerians to reject the hike, as it is a form of economic oppression aimed at worsening the gap between the rich and the poor.
“The decision to implement these tariffs without considering the impact on the average citizen is not only callous but also short-sighted. The resulting consequences could potentially lead to internal security threats as the disparity between the haves and the have-nots becomes more pronounced.
“The NEF strongly believes that this decision was made without carefully considering the economic realities faced by the majority of Nigerians, and it highlights the government’s lack of empathy towards its citizens,” the NEF stressed.
Noting that the move by the Federal Government was a betrayal of the people, the group called on the government to reconsider its decision given the social and economic hardships confronting Nigerians.
The ICIR reported that NERC approved a tariff hike for Band A customers, who enjoy up to 20 hours of power supply.
The affected customers, who earlier paid N68/kilowatt-hour, will now pay as high as N225 for electricity.
This is in spite of the fact that many electricity consumers in Nigeria do not get a commensurate power supply for the tariff bands they are placed on.
Economic reforms worsening hardship
Since the inauguration of the current government under President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians have been confronted with hardships occasioned by certain economic reforms, which have led to a steady increase in the cost of living.
On May 29, the day he was sworn into office as president, Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy, while delivering his inaugural speech, after which fuel prices surged by about 200 per cent.
The surge in fuel costs resulted in some hardship for Nigerians, as transport costs and other businesses were affected by the hike.
The following month, Nigeria officially floated her currency, which resulted in a drastic fall of the naira against the dollar, further pushing up the cost of goods and services.
On several occasions, after these decisions were taken, Tinubu promised to ease Nigerians’ sufferings through certain interventions, including an increase in the minimum wage, which currently is N30,000.
While most of these promises have yet to be implemented, including the wage increase, the government has again hiked the cost of electricity for citizens.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.