The Senate on Tuesday
mandated the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to halt
the 45 percent tariff increase being implemented by electricity
distribution companies.
This development was as a result of the deadlock in discussions between the Senate leadership and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and his counterpart in the Labour and Employment ministry, Dr. Chris Ngige.
Ripples gathered that the upper legislative chamber had asked the NERC to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of further deliberations with the ministers.
The motion to suspend the implementation of the new tariff which came was moved by Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi).
Echoing similar sentiments, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said Nigerians were already on life support and urged his colleagues to reject the new increment and stand with Nigerians.
Several other speakers, including Senator Dino Melaye, urged lawmakers to look beyond the suspension of the new tariff regime.
Malaye said, “This increase makes it the fourth time that electricity tariffs will be up after the privatisation of the power sector. Their excuse has always been that they want to improve on the electricity.
“We need to take a stand and mandate the government to reduce the tariffs. There was no negotiation with the Senate or the Labour. They arbitrarily increased the tariffs and expect us not to talk.”
This development was as a result of the deadlock in discussions between the Senate leadership and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and his counterpart in the Labour and Employment ministry, Dr. Chris Ngige.
Ripples gathered that the upper legislative chamber had asked the NERC to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of further deliberations with the ministers.
The motion to suspend the implementation of the new tariff which came was moved by Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi).
Echoing similar sentiments, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said Nigerians were already on life support and urged his colleagues to reject the new increment and stand with Nigerians.
Several other speakers, including Senator Dino Melaye, urged lawmakers to look beyond the suspension of the new tariff regime.
Malaye said, “This increase makes it the fourth time that electricity tariffs will be up after the privatisation of the power sector. Their excuse has always been that they want to improve on the electricity.
“We need to take a stand and mandate the government to reduce the tariffs. There was no negotiation with the Senate or the Labour. They arbitrarily increased the tariffs and expect us not to talk.”
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