IPMAN Wants FG To Shelve Electricity Tariff Hike

The Western Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers
Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) yesterday advised the Federal Government to
shelve its plan to increase electricity tariff from June 1.

Mr Olumide Ogunmade, the Chairman of the association, told
our correspondent in Lagos that the decision was ill-timed as electricity
supply was not stable.

He said that government should solve the problem of
incessant power outages before embarking on the tariff hike.

“Government should resolve the nation’s epileptic power
supply before increasing electricity tariff,’’ Ogunmade said.

The IPMAN chairman said that it was wrong for government to
embark on the tariff hike while many Nigerians were suffering from the effects
of power outages.

Ogunmade urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission (NERC) to ensure that the power situation was stable before
contemplating any tariff increase.

He said that Nigerians would not hesitate to seek legal action
against the hike.

Ogunmade also advised government to address the issue of
infrastructure decay and provide adequate supply of electricity before any
tariff review.

“We are tired of the billing system of PHCN. In spite of
erratic power supply, they still intend to enforce the tariff  hike.

“Nigerians will not hesitate to take legal action against
PHCN and NERC over arbitrary charges in various forms included in the pre-paid
meter payment vouchers,’’ he said.