Groups Condemn Plans on Electricity hike

Posted on December 12, 2017

IFY IKEM

Human rights activists and civil society groups have called on the Federal Government to stay off on the planned hike on electricity tariff.

According to them the Nigeria power sector for a long time has taken undue advantage and exploited the Nigerian electricity consumers, until the Labour groups and civil society organizations decided to take up and challenge their inordinate practices.

The union comprising of Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), Ajegunle People Movement (APM), Human Rights
Activists, among others advised Discos not to hike tariff again in midst of hard biting economic recession, which has brought so much pains to all Nigerians as the increment is largely unaffordable.

Speaking further, Toluwani Adebiyi said that the unfair trade practices was challenged at the Federal High Court Lagos in suit No FHC/L/CS/768/2015, culminating into the landmark judgment of 13th July, 2016 by
Honourable Justice M.B Idris, in favour of Nigeria consumers.

He said that the DISCOs cannot increase tariff when there were still many Nigerians without prepaid meters after 4 years of privatization, contrary to the MoU between the Federal Government and the private sector mandating Discos to issue meters to all Nigeria consumers within 18 months from 1st November 2013 when the sector was privatized.

“DISCOs cannot hike tariff with the usual purpose of bringing improvement which had consistently remained mirage. Many Nigeria communities had been in unending blackout for months and years. Most communities in Okikipupa,

Ilaje-Ese Odo/Ikale and most of Akoko land have been in total darkness for the past 4-5years”

The publicity Secretary, Democratic Socialist Movement, Chiedu Bosah called on the Federal Government to save the masses over the failure of the power sector.

“Nigerians are living in darkness, we need electricity. Many communities were having two days on three days off. It is now worse than before as many transformer had parked up. We have lost confidence in the power sector as there had been no improvement. It was high time government took back from the private sector. Enough is enough! Nigerians can no longer be taken for granted” he said.