Electricity Tariff Hike’ll Inflict More Pains On Nigerians -Banigo

The Senate has urged the Federal Government to halt the proposed increase in the prices of electricity tariff.
This is sequel to the motion brought to the floor of the Senate by Senator Akintunde Eunus Abiodun and two others.
The Senate is concerned that in the last 10years, billions of naira has been spent by Senators across the country for the procurement, installation of transformers in their various constituencies in which the said transformers become registered properties of the distribution electricity companies (Discos) without the supply of electricity, leaving consumers in perpertual blackout, unjustifiable billings, as well as lack of supply of prepaid meters.
In seconding the motion, Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, representing Rivers West Senatorial District said that with the removal of fuel subsidy, Nigerians are already suffering and hence, increasing the prices of electricity tariff will further compound the hardship to the Nigerian people.
Banigo noted that small and medium term enterprises, SMEs, will be greatly affected if the plan is allowed to go ahead.
She therefore urged the Senate to call on the Federal Government, as a matter of urgency to immediately halt the said proposal in the interest of the poor masses.
The Senate agreed to the motion as Senate President, Godswill Akpabio thanked the Senators for their contribution to the sensitivity of the matter and resolved that all electricity tariff increment should be suspended.
In another development, Senator Ipalibo Banigo has prayed the Senate to urge the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency as well as state Ministries of Health and relevant agencies to curb the spread of Diphtheria disease across the country.
Banigo noted that Diphtheria disease which affects both children and adult is totally preventable through childhood immunisation.
“The reason for the spread of this disease in some States and likely to spread adversely is due to the reduction in child immunisation all over the country,” she said.