President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, wondered why the electricity tariff should be hiked rather down reviewed downwards.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its disapproval of the increase in electricity tariff for Band A customers.
The electricity distribution companies (DisCos) on Wednesday announced that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved the increase from N206.80 per kilowatt-hour (KWh) to N209.5/KWh.
According to them, the increase was necessary due to exchange rate fluctuations, inflation, generation capacity and cost of gas.
They said the tariff for Bands B, C, D, and E remains unchanged.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, wondered why the electricity tariff should be hiked rather down reviewed downwards.
He said, “This increment has come on the heels of unresolved contestations around the insane 250 per cent hike in tariff leading to national paralysis including the shutting down of 300 businesses as per the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
READ ALSO: NERC jerks up electricity tariff by more than 300%
“The 250 per cent hike drew the ire of the citizenry and rage of organised labour whose members went on a one-day protest for its unreasonableness and violation of extant rules of tariff hike.
“We had demanded a reversal. The only reason that action was paused was a firm assurance from relevant quarters including the National Assembly that the matter would be dealt with quietly.”
The NLC leader said he did not doubt that this “display of insincerity and insensitivity” would pit the people against the government or vice versa.
Ajaero called for a reversal as he said that the excuses given by the distribution companies underscore the argument that the government and entities in the energy sector are not serious about finding an enduring solution to the nation’s energy crisis.
He said: “Given the further damage this latest wave of increase will do to our economy, we demand an immediate reversal of the hike. It is unjustifiable, unreasonable and malevolent. Government and DisCos should stop killing the people and the economy.”
