Consumers’ group wants electricity tariff hike postponed

The Nigeria Consumer Protection Network (NCPN) has urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to shift the enforcement of the planned increase in electricity tariff as Nigeria battles to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The President of NCPN, Kunle Kola Olubiyo, in a statement, said at a time of national emergency in Nigeria occasioned by COVID-19, the suspension of the tariff hike should be part of the palliatives the Federal Government should consider.

Olubiyo said, “The proposed increase in electricity tariff effective 1st Day of April, 2020, should be deferred by three months and made to take effect on the 1st day of July, 2020, subject to further adjustment and final negotiation between the operators and other relevant stakeholders.”

He also advocated for other alleviation measures that include 50 per cent tax rebate to Nigerians, adding that the recent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) to 7.5 per cent should be put on hold.

He said, “It may not be out of place for the Federal Government of Nigeria to consider a 50 per cent discount on taxes as a rebate, 50 per cent discount on tax returns, 50 per cent tax penalties on taxes payable to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), among other levies.”

He said these should be from the start of the second quarter of 2020; April to June, explaining that, “These will serve as an economic stimulus for the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) with less than 10 employees.”