Rep. Madaki said the proposed increment in electricity tariff is simply an exploitation of the citizens, which is contravention of Section 17 (2) (d) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to stay action on the approval of any increment of electricity tariff in Nigeria by electricity distribution companies.
This directive followed the adoption of a motion moved by the House Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano), wherein he expressed worry over the widespread apprehension in the country over the planned introduction of a new electricity tariff regime by the DISCOS.
He said the recent statement by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) directing its consumers to disregard the earlier notice of the increase in the electricity tariff hike is confusing as members of the public are confused as to what to believe.
READ ALSO: Reps approve Tinubu’s N500bn palliatives request, pass Supplementary Appropriation Bill
The lawmaker, who has a background in the electricity sector before joining partisan politics, was concerned that “the proposed increase is coming despite the inability of the operators to meet the threshold of supplying at least 5,000 megawatts per year after signing the contract with the NERC.
Believed that it is most inappropriate and insensitive to come up with a price increase of such magnitude at this time when many Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the increase in petrol prices.
Worried that at this point, the proposed increment of electricity tariff by the DISCOs is not in the best interest of the average Nigerian Citizen, neither is it for the common good of the citizenry.”
READ ALSO: “About 60 million people within the ECOWAS region live without electricity”
He added that the proposed increment is an exploitation of the common citizen, which is not in line with Section 17 (2) (d) of the Constitution which states that the “exploitation of human resources in any form whatsoever for reasons other than the good of community should be prevented.”
Ruling on the motion, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, referred it to the Committee on Power (when constituted).
