Senate directs NERC to suspend electricity tariff hikes; orders immediate reversal

The 8th Senate, Tuesday, directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately suspend implementation of the February 1st, 2016 tariff hikes, which, according to the upper chambers, is both unnecessary and arbitrary.
The Senate gave the order following a motion sponsored by Suleiman Nafiz (APC-Bauchi North) in which he had asked the house to probe how funds allocated to electricity companies were spent..
“Today, the 8th senate directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately suspend the February 1st 2016 tariff hike, which are estimated to be upwards of 40 per cent.
“This move is necessary because any increase in cost, without the necessary improvement in service delivery by the power companies is unacceptable.
“Furthermore, the power distribution companies must work to ensure that every establishment in Nigeria is provided with capabilities for metered billing. Doing so would end the sharp practice of arbitrary billing which estimates the power consumption of Nigerians in the generation of their month bills,” read the Facebook post of the senate president, Bukola Saraki, Tuesday morning.
According to Saraki, this was part of the senate’s resolution during their plenary today February 16th.
On his part, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, described the tariff raise as “ultra-wicked and unconscionable”.
However, Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the measure was a “bitter pill” Nigerians must swallow to enjoy optimal service delivery in the power sector.
In his contribution, Dino Melaye, (APC-Kogi west) noted that the latest increase in electricity tariff was the fourth since the privatisation of power.
“We ask for an immediate reversal of the 40 percent increase in electricity tariff because it is arbitrary,” he said.
Also speaking against the new regime, Ekweremadu said, “As a country on life-support we do not need to add to the suffering of the people.For me this tariff increase is ultra-wicked and unconscionable. We must reverse it immediately.”