Business owners under the aegis of Cooperative Business Society of Abuja, CBSA, have protested the astronomical hike in electricity tariff in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
The grouped who described the actions of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC as inimical to economic and business growth in Nigeria, said the hike was a flagrant disregard to the Multi-Year Tariffs Order as contained in the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, guideline, and a set back to business growth, especially with world economy facing turbulent time and coming a few days to the general election.
Recently, the AEDC jacked up the Abuja electricity tariffs for businesses from N22.08 to N35.03 per kilowatts for commercial power consumers in the FCT, an increment of about 58 per cent.
The group in their objection letter and petition signed by 25 heads and managers of business entities that formed the cooperative group, stated: “We the undersigned business society group in Abuja hereby objects to the sudden increase by 58.55 per cent in electricity kilowatt from N22.08 to N35.03for commercial power consumers in the FCT. According to the multi-year tariff order for the NERC, the maximum electricity increase for 2015 is five per cent.
“We are shaken by this blatant disregard to the commission’s guideline and total lack of interest in the business operating in the capital city. Many businesses have collapsed under the ever increasing weight of cost of operation and harsh economic environment. We are already struggling to keep our head above water as our businessesgroan under the austere economic situation in the country.
“The increase will definitely run down our business and have a negative impact on our stakeholders and by extension the AEDC.We strongly object to this increment and request the AEDC to revoke it.
They therefore appealed to the NERC and all concerned citizen to intervene in the interest of the general public and call the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to order in reversing the new tariff to reflect normal tariff increment as contained in the NERC guidelines.
