LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed strong disapproval of the recent increase in the tariff for Band A customers from N206.80 to N209.5 per kilowatt-hour.
The NLC has called for an immediate reversal of the new tariff, accusing the Federal Government of being insensitive and insincere.
In a statement on Thursday, NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the tariff hike, describing it as an act of impunity and arrogance. He warned that this increase would force more businesses to close and exacerbate consumer hardships.
On Wednesday, DisCos announced another round of tariff hikes.
They stated that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission approved the new rates due to increased operational costs driven by rising inflation and fluctuations in exchange rates.
Ajaero pointed out that during the recent national strike, the Federal Government had promised to address the Band A tariff hike from N68/KWh.
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He questioned why the subsequent action was another tariff increase rather than a reduction.
Ajaero said, “This increment has come on the heels of unresolved contestations around the insane 250 per cent hike in tariff leading to national paralysis including the shutting down of 300 businesses as per the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
“The 250 per cent hike drew the ire of the citizenry and rage of organised labour whose members went on a one-day protest for its unreasonableness and violation of extant rules of tariff hike.”
“We had demanded a reversal. The only reason that action was paused was a firm assurance from relevant quarters including the National Assembly that the matter would be dealt with quietly,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, the NLC president criticized the new hike, arguing that it further demonstrates the government’s insincerity and insensitivity by implementing another increase instead of reversing the previous one.
“We do not doubt that this frequent crass display of insincerity and insensitivity will pit the people against the government or vice versa,” he stated.
Ajaero explained that the three excuses given by DisCo (exchange rate, interest rate and cost of gas) as justification for this increase “underscore our argument that the government and entities in the energy sector are not serious about finding an enduring solution to our energy crisis”.
He emphasised, Given the further damage this latest wave of increase will do to our economy, we demand an immediate reversal of the hike. It is unjustifiable, unreasonable and malevolent. Government and DisCos should stop killing the people and the economy.”