Reps ask NERC not to increase electricity tariff

he House of Representatives yesterday passed a resolution urging the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC) not to increase electricity tariff across the country.

Adopting a motion sponsored by Rep Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC Kano), the House equally mandated its committee on power to investigate the rationale behind persistent increase in electricity tariff and report back in two weeks.

NERC had recently announced that a new increased electricity tariff regime would take effect from this month, which shows that consumers will now pay about twice of the current tariff.

But Madaki in his motion noted that there has been erratic power supply by respective power companies in the country, saying the planned increase would bring more hardship to Nigerians.

He said previous increase in electricity tariff did not yield any corresponding results, saying the projected estimates “to generate 4000 megawatts in 2008, 6000MW in 2009, 10,000MW in 2010 and 16,000MW in 2011 ended up in fiasco.”

He said if the proposed increase in the electricity tariff was not stopped, “its multiple effects on the economy cannot be quantified.”

The motion was unanimously adopted by majority of members at plenary as Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal referred it to the committee on power for further action.

From left: Chairman, Advisory Board, Institute for Government Research Leadership Technology, Prof. Efiong Etuk; Zonal Manager North, Wema Bank, Muyhideem Ima; the Bank Business Development Manager Abuja, Bukola Adelodun and Regional Protocol and Admin Manager, Yusuf Afeez during the African product forum held in Abuja, recently.