Electricity Tariff Hike In De-Subsidy Era

To say ‘Nigeria is sick’ is an euphemism. It is a mild and modest way to express the gory and unpleasant situation Nigerians are faced with. This country is gradually tottering on the brink of collapse, considering the increasing rate of inflation compounded by the hardship the masses are avoidably grappling with.
The Federal Government’ led by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has acknowledged the human-inflicted pain on the Nigerian people. Recall that President Tinubu had in his 2023 Democracy Day Broadcast to the nation, aired on radio and television stations,   admitted that unpopular economic policies of the immediate past and successive administrations were the core problems of Nigeria.
In the 25 paragraph broadcast, President Tinubu succinctly said, “I admit that the decision (to remove fuel subsidy) will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.
“Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of this country. For your trust and belief, your sacrifices shall not be in vain.
“The Government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives…”
President Tinubu stated in clear and unmistakeable terms that the masses of Nigeria are already “burdened” but they need to carry the “extra burden” and make “sacrifices a little more” for the fuel subsidy removal.
However, in less than two months from the President Tinubu’s appeal, the Power Holding Electricity Distribution Company is jostling to implement an upwardly reviewed electricity tariff when Nigerians are still gasping for breathe in an inflation-riddled and depressed economy.
The consequential trauma and the unpleasant euphoria from the fuel subsidy removal remain a nightmare to the masses of Nigeria. This is so, because the present administration of President Tinubu did not put in place remedial measures before the removal of fuel subsidy. It has also not made reasonable and intentional commitment to drive the promised subsidy removal palliatives  “through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, Education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of life of the masses”.
Eight thousand naira for twelve million households, is to say the least, repugnant to the letter and spirit of giving palliatives to compatriots who have taken extra burden and made a little more sacrifices for Nigeria not to go under and take the resources of Nigeria from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements. Certainly, it is not one of the best ways to repay compatriots. It shows that the Federal Government’ is not abreast with the excruciating pains and burdens of Nigerians. It suggests that Mr. President’s promises were ironical. If not, he should walk the talk. He should not raise the hopes of Nigerians and public servants, only to dash it.
The president should, therefore, prevail on the Power Holding Distribution Company to postpone the planned tariff hike of electricity supply.
Already, there are thousand and one reasons why the Power Company should shelve the planned hike.
I agree with the Principal Partner, Utilities Consumer Rights’ Advocacy Initiative, Mr. Shadrack Akinbodunse, that there has never been corresponding performances from the electricity Distribution Companies to justify new tariff regime. Mass meter deployment as promised by the Distribution Companies is a mirage while old and obsolete meters are not replaced contrary to the directive of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission.
With such apparent lack-lustre performances which infringe on consumer Rights, the Power Holding Company should improve on the quality of its services and  comply with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission’s order on metering before revisiting the issue of upward review of electricity tariff.
Already the burden on the masses is so much that they cannot afford extra-burden of tariff hike besides fuel subsidy removal and its multi-dimensional negative impacts on the masses.
I hope the National Assembly will rise to defend consumers.
There should be a “regular power supply” as promised by the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, before tariff is increased.

By: Igbiki Benibo