April 30, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives has asked the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to suspend the implementation of the new tariff.
This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved at plenary on Tuesday, by Nkemkanma Kama, a Labour Party (LP) lawmaker from Ebonyi State.
THEWILL reports that NERC had on April 3, approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.
The commission said customers under the category, who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily, would begin to pay N225 per kilowatt (kW), starting from April 3, up from N66.
Defending the tariff hike before the Senate committee on power on Monday, Adebayo Adelabu, minister of Power, said the federal government could not afford to pay subsidies on electricity any more. He said for the sector to be revived, the government needs to spend about $10 billion annually in the next 10 years.
“This is because of the infrastructure requirement for the stability of the sector, but the government cannot afford that”, Adelabu had said.
Meanwhile, the lower chamber has summoned the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the CEO of the NNPC Ltd. Mele Kyari, over the current scarcity of petrol in some parts of the country.
The decision came after Shehu Ajilo, a member representing Makarfi/Kudan Federal Constituency, moved a motion of urgent public importance during Tuesday’s plenary session.
President Bola Tinubu serves as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, while Heineken Lokpobiri holds the position of Minister of State (Petroleum Resources). However, it was not specified which minister was summoned by the lawmakers.
The Minister and Kyari are expected to provide insights into the fuel crisis and outline measures to alleviate the situation during the briefing to the lawmakers.
About the Author
