The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the new electricity tariff increase announced by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) is dead on arrival, as it will be resisted by the Nigerian working class and people.
The NLC in a statement signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba described the increase as “exploitation of poor Nigerians”, just as it cautioned the other DISCOs not to “bother putting their ships of exploitation to sail.”
The Congress said it appears that the adamant desire of DISCOs in Nigeria to ram through their ill-conceived agenda to further impoverish Nigerians through astronomical tariff increase amidst a plummeting return on service delivery has now been deregulated.
“The Abuja DISCO has adorned the robe of the protagonist with its recent announcement of a new tariff plan for electricity consumers within the sphere of its service area.
“This move is despite the resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and even the direct orders of Mr. President himself that the plans by DISCOs to hike electricity tariff should be suspended until further notice. We are not aware of any order by the government or the elected representatives of the Nigerian people de-freezing the order to suspend any plans to inflict more pocket and psychological trauma on Nigerians by way of reckless and insensitive hike in electricity tariff.”
Wabba said each hike in electricity tariff in Nigeria is trailed by huge leap in the hours of darkness, de-metering of more Nigerians, exponential rise in incidences of estimated billing, and increased burden on citizens for the procurement of equipment and facilities for public electricity supply amidst other devious methods by DISCOs to cheat, exploit and despoil poor Nigerians.
He therefore challenged the the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to speak to up and act in the defense of the rights of the Nigerian people, saying NERC would be putting its name on the wrong side of history if it continues to play the Ostrich.
Credit: Leadership.ng
