Electricity Tariff: Nigerians Paying More For Poor Service, Fraud, Says NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) frowned at what it described as the incessant and exorbitant review of electricity tariff by the Federal Government.

 
The union said it believed that the multi-year tariff structure as designed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and tacitly approved by government, only served the interest of investors in the power sector with little or no consideration for consumers, most of whom were poor and incapable of paying.
In a statement signed by its national president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC said the tariff review was exploitative and saddening more so that it was not accompanied by commensurate improved services.

 
“If anything, electricity service delivery has plummeted over the years with consumers compelled to pay exorbitant tariff rates for incompetence, poor service and fraud,” it said.
The statement further noted, “The previous year, the charge which was N225 had been arbitrarily increased to over N700. This review whether done suddenly or in advance is without justification or rationale and stands condemned as it will negate whatever gains expected to be recorded by the much vaunted reform in the power sector.